The camera on an asus laptop turns off. How to connect the built-in webcam in a laptop

Many people fear that they may be spied on through their webcams, at first glance it seems that this is ordinary paranoia, but if you look at this issue a little more, you will see that you have something to fear! In today's article we will tell you why you should think about disabling webcams or closing them, as well as how to do it.

If you think that this question will not affect you, this may turn out to be a mistake, this question is not relevant to those who do not have a webcam and then, you come to visit someone, and they have a laptop or computer with a webcam on, and who - looks through her at everything that happens, although no one knows about it. Now there are many tools that will help you connect to an unprotected webcam and watch what is happening. But you don’t want your random photos to end up online???

Is Webcam Spying Really a Threat?

Maybe ten years ago this would have been considered paranoia, but today it is an inconvenient reality...

In 2009, a student sued his school after discovering that the school was secretly taking photographs of him through an issued laptop (a subsequent legal investigation revealed that the school had collected 56,000 photographs of students without their knowledge or consent). In 2013, researchers showed that they could activate the webcam on MacBooks without indicator light, which was previously considered impossible. A former FBI agent confirmed that not only is it possible, but that they've been doing it for years.

In 2013, we learned from Edward Snowden that the NSA was using some software to gain access to cameras on iPhones and BlackBerrys. In 2014, again thanks to Snowden, we learned that the NSA has a variety of tools at its disposal for remote video monitoring using a webcam. Also a few years ago, many computers were infected with BlackShades, this malware allowed criminals to steal passwords and banking credentials; hack Accounts social networks; access to documents, photos, and others computer files; record all keystrokes; activate webcams; etc.

It would be easier if only the NSA used these tools, but everything has become so simple that even an experienced user can connect to your webcam! Therefore, the threat of spying on you via a webcam exists.

What can be done?

1.Use an antivirus: An antivirus must be installed on your computer and it is advisable to constantly update its database. Although it will not save you from many types of spying and malware, it will still protect you a little. Also, even if you have good antivirus- scan your computer at least once a month using (there is paid versions, but the free ones are enough for a one-time scan!). These tools will rid your computer of a lot of junk and help you be more or less safe!

2.Disconnect the camera from the network: if your camera is not built-in and connects to a device with via USB- just disconnect it, and when you need to use it, connect it again. There is also an option to turn it towards the wall when not in use.

3. Close it: if, for example, you have a laptop with a built-in camera, you can cover it with something, here let your imagination run wild. You can use some kind of clothespin, a leaf and much more; in general, now on the market you can find a special latch for webcams. Train yourself to close your webcam when you're not using it!

4.Disable the webcam through Device Manager: in the search bar or in the Run menu (Run is called with the Win+R keys) write the command devmgmt.msc and press Enter key(In Windows 8.1 and 10, you can right-click on the Start menu and select "Device Manager").

Find "Image processing devices" at the very bottom => open them => right-click on the camera and select "Disable".

To enable the camera if necessary, go to the device manager again => right-click on the camera => select “enable”.

This method is not ideal, it is not fast, and it does not guarantee that now no one except you will turn on the camera.

There is also an option to disable the camera via Bios, but not all devices support this method and it is not very convenient! Conclusion: the easiest way to protect yourself from covert shooting- cover the webcam with something, or if it is connected via USB, turn it off when not in use! That's all for today, if you have any additions - write comments! Good luck to you :)

In the world today information technologies Hacking began to actively develop. An experienced hacker can penetrate almost any computer and obtain user information, if, of course, the laptop is connected to the network.

Why turn off the camera?

IN Lately Users complain that their webcam turns on spontaneously. This way hackers can see where you are and what you are doing. In the future, this information can be used in completely different ways, even to the point that you become a star on YouTube.

How to solve this problem? It's quite simple, you can simply turn off the camera until you use it to communicate with people you know. How to disable the camera on a laptop? For this you can use 3 absolutely different ways. Let's look at them.

How to disable the camera on a laptop. First way

The easiest way is to cover the webcam lens. There are many different curtains on the Internet that will help cover the camera. In addition, laptops are now being produced that already contain these additional funds protection. Of course, you won't change your computer because of some curtain, but if you don't even want to buy additional element, which will cover the lens, then you can use the “collective farm” method. We take electrical tape, a piece of paper and seal the webcam.

As we have already found out, this is the simplest method, but there is still one more problem. This way we won't turn off the microphone. This is not a big problem, but if you want to completely protect yourself from intruders, you should use other methods.

Second way

How to turn off the camera on Windows laptop 7, 8.1, 10? More reliable way- turn off the webcam via Using it, you can either disconnect the selected device or connect it back. First, let's look at how to disable the camera on a laptop.

1. Go to the “Device Manager” directory. How to do it? In the search you need to write “Device Manager” and press Enter. In Windows 7 and Windows 8, search is located in the Start menu, and in the new version Windows search can be found near the Start menu.
2. Let's go to the Imaging Devices tab, where you can see your camera. As a rule, it has the name of the computer manufacturer. If you need to turn off the external webcam, you should go to the “USB Controllers” tab. Of course, with external camera a little simpler. You can simply unplug it from USB and, if necessary, plug it back in.
3. Click right click mouse over your camera and select “Disable”. Next, you must agree to all warnings.

That's all. Webcam is disabled. Now we need to consider how to turn on the camera.

1. Open the “Device Manager” directory.
2. Let's move on to the "Image Processing Devices" section.
3. Select the webcam and right-click on it. In this case, you must select the “Enable” item and click on the “Yes” button, confirming your action.

As you may have noticed, this is a fairly simple way to turn off the camera, but there is another way software method shutdowns.

Third way

How to disable the camera on a laptop? To do this we need to install additional program WebCam On-Off. It's pretty simple program, which doesn’t even require installation, it works right from the folder.

So, after installing the program, open it. To do this, go to the directory of the desired utility and click on the shortcut with the extension (exe). Unfortunately, the application is in English, but it’s not difficult to figure out how to work in it. On the left you can see 3 buttons.

To turn off the webcam and microphone, you must click on the Disable button. And to enable it, you need to click on the Enable button. It should be remembered that while the camera is turned off, it should not be used in any applications.

How to disable the webcam on a laptop? As you've already noticed, this is quite easy to do. You can choose the most suitable method and turn off the camera when not in use.

Most modern laptops have a built-in webcam. After installing the drivers, it is always in working mode and available for use by all applications. Sometimes some users don’t want their camera to work all the time, so they are looking for a way to turn it off. Today we will tell you how to do this and describe methods for turning off the webcam on a laptop.

There are two simple ways, thanks to which the webcam on the laptop is disabled. One disables the device completely in the system, after which it cannot be used by any application or site. The second method is for browsers only. Let's look at these methods in more detail.

Method 1: Disable Webcam in Windows

IN operating system Windows you can not only view installed equipment, but also to manage them. Thanks to this built-in function, the camera is turned off. You just need to follow simple instructions and everything will work out.

After these steps, the device will be disabled and cannot be used in programs or browsers. If the webcam is not listed in Device Manager, you will need to install drivers. They are available for download on the official website of your laptop manufacturer. In addition, installation also takes place through special software. You can find a list of programs for installing drivers in our article at the link below.

If you are active Skype user and want to disable the camera only in this application, then you will not need to do this action throughout the entire system. The shutdown occurs in the program itself. Detailed instructions on implementation this process you will find in a special article.

Method 2: Disable the webcam in the browser

Nowadays, some sites ask for permission to use a webcam. To not give them this right or to simply get rid of intrusive notifications, you can disable the equipment through the settings. Let's look at doing this in popular browsers, starting with:

Browser owners will need to perform approximately the same steps. There is nothing complicated about disabling, just follow the following instructions:

As you can see, disabling occurs in just a few clicks; even inexperienced user. As for the browser, the shutdown process is almost identical. You will need to do the following:

Another popular web browser is . It allows you to edit many parameters to make your work more comfortable. Among all the settings there is also a configuration for accessing the camera. It is disabled as follows:

If you are a user of any other less popular browser, then you can also turn off the camera in it. You just need to read the instructions above and find the identical settings in your web browser. All of them are developed according to approximately the same algorithm, so performing this process will be similar to the steps described above.

Above we looked at two simple methods, thanks to which the built-in webcam on the laptop is disabled. As you can see, this is very easy and quick to do. The user only needs to do a few things simple steps. We hope our tips helped you turn off the hardware on your laptop.

A few years ago, claims that you could be watched on your webcam sounded like the delusions of a paranoid person. But considering latest events in the world, I stopped being so categorical. In this article we will look at security issues, how to disable the built-in web camera, and why you need to do it.

Experienced hackers write programs and develop phishing techniques that make it easy for even teenagers to hijack the webcam of unsuspecting people. They can save very intimate images and videos of people. To protect yourself from this, read the following tips.

Is there really such a threat?

Last year, information appeared in the media that on a certain website (here it is, by the way, insecam.cc, fortunately no longer available), it was possible to gain access to the webcams of unsuspecting people. A group of hackers, using a distributed software, infected about 70 thousand computers.
In 2013, researchers showed that they could activate the webcam on a MacBook without the lights turning on, something previously thought impossible. A former FBI agent confirmed that not only is it possible, but that they've been doing it for years. About our “favorite” Windows history is silent. Before reading further, .
In the same year, everyone learned from Edward Snowden that the NSA successfully used programs that gained access to the camera on iPhones and Blackberries. And in 2014, again kindly from Snowden, we learned that intelligence agencies have many tools for remote monitoring and remote video surveillance via web cameras. That's not all.

Not only intelligence agencies

Before you shrug and say, “Well, the NSA doesn’t care about my boring life, so it doesn’t matter.” We want to emphasize that, unfortunately, even a person with minor qualifications can gain access to your personal data. You can find it online full instructions how this is done and with what tools. Then the attackers can either simply watch you, which is not very good. Or blackmail, or make public moments from your intimate life.
And all because, with all the convenience mobile devices, social networks and cloud storage, people completely forget about basic security rules.

• Under no circumstances should you set a simple password on your cloud storage, where your photos and videos from your smartphone are automatically sent. It is better to turn off such synchronization altogether. And still, every year the most hacked passwords are published, and among them are: 1234, password, password, etc.
• You cannot download and run programs, especially unlicensed ones, from unverified sites.
• Not allowed on Security Question put: mother's maiden name, pet's name, first car and other information THAT YOU PUBLISH ON YOUR PAGE IN ONE OF THE SOCIAL NETWORKS. It's sad, but many people do this.

Imagine, the security question is your mother’s last name, and then in the parents line you indicate a link to your mother with her maiden name. Or there’s a caption on the photo, my favorite little car, here’s my first car, and so on and so forth. All that’s left to do here is to say obscenities: “Are you even people anymore?”

What to do

Given the ease with which you can, in most cases, turn your camera off and on again, I think it's wise to disable or seal your computer's webcam. Since there are no guarantees, especially in light of the numerous documented cases of web spying, that this will not affect you
In the following sections we will consider various methods shutdowns, as well as their effectiveness, ease of use and reversibility of some.

Are you using an antivirus?

It is clear that any antivirus is not able to detect all attacks, and will never detect new attack methods, but it will cope with already known viruses and all kinds of phishing links, and will not allow you to launch suspicious file. Typically, school hackers use already known hacking methods and rarely come up with something new.

Pull out of port

For desktop users with external webcams (99% desktop computers web cameras external), simple solution is a simple disconnect from USB. No amount of hacking will magically connect the device back.

This is the most safe way approach the problem if you have external webcam and works regardless of hardware or software.

Disable via BIOS

This option is only supported for laptops with built-in webcams. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS (follow the on-screen instructions, usually by pressing the F2, DEL, or ECS key). Once logged in, look for something like webcam, integrated camera, or CMOS camera. These items usually have a simple switch like enable/disable or lock/unlock.
Unfortunately, it is relatively rare to do this through the BIOS. Dell and Lenovo laptops usually come with this feature. Other manufacturers, depending on the model, may not provide this option.
Keep in mind that disabling the webcam will usually disable the microphone too; most laptops have the camera and microphone module on the same small board extensions. This is beneficial (from a privacy perspective), but you need to understand why your microphone isn't working either)

Disable in OS

This solution is not as reliable as disabling the webcam in the BIOS. After all, if someone gets administrator rights remotely, this is again easy to do and will turn the camera back on without any hassle. On the other hand, turning off in this way is the simplest, most convenient and fastest.
You need to open the device manager. This can be done in many ways actually. The simplest Control Panel is Device Manager

Find your camera in the manager, right-click and turn it off

Camera cover

The trade-off between troublesome shutdowns and privacy security are covers. Elementary and simple technique. A video with a lid will definitely not work. But before you run for tape, maybe you should consider more aesthetic methods. Special covers and casings are sold.

Most modern laptops are equipped with a webcam. In many cases, the standard camera used for Skype and other video conferencing services is used, but some laptops come with infrared cameras that are used for facial recognition in Windows service Hello. The vast majority of laptops also have a built-in microphone that works in conjunction with the camera.

If you don't use your camera or microphone, you'll probably want to turn off these devices. You may ask why is this necessary? The fact is that some malware can gain control of hardware components and will carry out unauthorized access, even when you're not using them. If you're concerned about protecting your privacy, these instructions will clearly show you how to disable the webcam and microphone on a laptop running Windows 10.

Scan your computer for threats

If you suspect that your computer may be infected with malware, the first step is to: full check systems. Even if the webcam and microphone are disabled, you cannot know for sure what kind of threat has taken up residence on your computer.

Check which apps are using your webcam

If you notice situations where the webcam activity LED lights up but you are not using specialized applications, then it would be a good idea to check which programs are accessing the camera. To do this, you need to download the Process Explorer program, find the name of your camera in Device Manager and search for it in the application.

Detailed instructions on how to do this are presented on our website:

Disabling the camera and microphone in Device Manager is the most in a fast way, but not the most secure - insidious malware will be able to reactivate devices without the user’s knowledge. However, it is useful to know how to disable your webcam and microphone using Task Manager.

To disable your webcam you only need to follow a few simple steps.

1. Expand the “Image Processing Devices” section.
2. Right-click on the “Built-in Camera” entry (the name may differ depending on different devices).
3. Select Disable.

To turn the webcam back on, follow these steps again, but instead of the “Disable” option, select “Enable”.

To disable the webcam you need to do similar steps, as when turning off the camera.

1. Right-click on the Start button.
2. Select “Device Manager”.
3. Expand the “Audio inputs and outputs” section.
4. Right-click on the “Built-in microphone” entry (the name may differ on different devices).
5. Select Disable.
6. In the confirmation window, select Yes.

To turn the microphone back on, follow these steps again, but instead of the “Disable” option, select “Enable”.

Some laptops allow you to disable the camera and microphone at the hardware level from the BIOS. The following steps may vary from device to device, but the basic principle is to interrupt the system boot and enable the management interface BIOS settings and search for parameters responsible for the operation of the webcam and microphone.

In case of Lenovo ThinkPad, the options for the built-in camera and microphone were located in the “I/O Port Access” section of the “Security” tab. After disconnecting both devices, you need to save the settings and exit the BIOS, after which the computer will restart.

Keep in mind that the BIOS on your laptop may look different, but final result will be the same. If you go to Device Manager after disabling devices in the BIOS, you will not be able to detect them.

To re-enable devices in the BIOS, repeat the steps, but instead of the “Disable” option, select “Enable”.

When it comes to the need to permanently unplug cameras, many users simply unplug the camera cables. This is a very drastic option and may void your laptop's warranty. A simpler solution would be to simply tape the camera.

Many users use sticky notes or tape to cover the camera, but some prefer a more professional approach. For these cases, inexpensive specialized accessories are available on the market that allow you to close the camera and unlock it if necessary using a slider.

Privacy?

Keep in mind that the only guaranteed way to disable a camera or microphone is to physically disable the devices by removing them from the laptop or by unplugging cables and cables. Most likely, you won’t want to do this yourself, but at least remember it for the future.

Have you been a victim malware, which gained control of the camera and microphone? Under what circumstances was this and how did you deal with the problem?

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