Forum Discussion
Edge, Webcam, and Anti-virus Software
I often find that my anti-virus software, Norton 360, informs me that Edge is seeking access to my webcam. I have read that other anti-virus software does the same thing. I am never sure why or what page triggered that request.
I am not worried because I have deliberately placed a cloth over my webcam for when it is not in use. And yesterday, I want to Settings > Privacy > Camera Privacy Settings and turned almost everything to off. I just left Skype and OneNote on, though I am not sure why I left OneNote on. I also left "Allow desktop apps to access your camera" to on. I did not see Edge in that list, so I am not sure if Edge is affected by those changes or not. I am thinking that, perhaps, Edge is a desktop app so it still has permission to access my camera.
Still, I would like Edge to tell me more information about which webpages wanting to access my webcam. Even better, I would like to be prompted for permission to access my webcam and to be able to blacklist and whitelist webpages. Off the top of my head, I can't think of a webpage that I would grant access. The only times I use my webcam is when I am using Skype, so I am not sure why Edge would be prompting me.
Because privacy and security are important, I think this item deserves some attention. People don't want their webcam filming them without their express knowledge and consent.
9 Replies
I am providing more information on my prior post.
Using Edge Beta, I did the following:
- Settings > Privacy and services > Clear browsing data >all time, browsing history, download history, cookies, cached images and files, site permissions, and hosted app data all checked, and cleared those items
- Settings > Site permissions > Camera > Ask first before accessing (recommended) is on
- Closed browser
- Reopened browser
- Settings > Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge (there is only one tab open)
When I follow those specific steps, I get a warning from my anti-virus software that Edge is accessing my camera.
I have included a screenshot of what it looks like below.
It seems odd to me that Edge needs to access my camera when I follow those above steps.
I would like Edge to prompt me before accessing my camera, as I have indicated in Step 2 above. Edge gave me no warnings.
Because camera access is very invasive to our privacy, I hope that something can be done.
- Did you try turning this off?
Settings > Site permissions > Camera > Ask first before accessing (recommended) is on- I went back and cleared cache and everything else as previously discussed.I turned OFF "ask first before accessing (recommended)" and then closed the browser.I then opened the Edge Beta and went to "About Microsoft Edge."Norton gave me the same warning again. I would have thought that, by turning that switch to off, Edge would no longer seek access to the camera under any circumstances. That thought appears to be wrong.
