Webcam Shield

 

Webcam Shield is designed to prevent applications and malware from accessing the PC's webcam and microphone without user consent. With Webcam Shield enabled, untrusted applications cannot capture images or videos and send the content outside of the PC to compromise user privacy.

To determine which applications are trusted and untrusted, Avast Reputation Services analyze the application based on several factors, including how many users have the application installed and the application's certification information.

This component is available for Windows workstations only.

 

Webcam Shield is located under the Privacy section of the client UI.

On the Webcam Shield screen, you can enable/disable this component using the dedicated toggle. You can also use the Block or Allow App button to directly access the Blocked & Allowed Apps section of the settings (see Blocked & Allowed Apps below for more information).

If no webcam is found on the device, you will be informed once you open the component.

Configuring Webcam Shield Settings

Advanced Webcam Shield settings can be accessed by either clicking the gear icon on the Webcam Shield screen or navigating to Menu > Settings > Privacy > Webcam Shield.

Here, you can select which mode Webcam Shield will use:

• Smart Mode (default): Automatically allows trusted applications to access the webcam. If an untrusted application attempts to access the webcam, a notification appears asking the user to allow or block the application. After selecting an option, the application appears on the Blocked & Allowed Apps list where its status can be seen and additional actions selected.
• Strict Mode: Notifies every time any application attempts to access the webcam and allows the user to decide if the application is blocked or allowed. After selecting an option, the application appears on the Blocked & Allowed Apps list where its status can be seen and additional actions selected
• Block access to webcam and microphone: Notifies every time any application attempts to access the webcam and microphone and automatically blocks them.

You can also protect your microphone from unauthorized access by ticking the checkbox next to Shield my microphone.

To disable notifications about apps being blocked/allowed in Strict or Disabled mode, tick the checkbox next to Don't show Webcam Shield reminders.

Clicking the View allowed / blocked apps link at the bottom will bring you to the Blocked & Allowed apps list (see below).

Blocked & Allowed Apps

If the device is managed by the Business Hub, the rules set here can be overridden by policy settings. For more information, see Webcam Shield.

As previously mentioned, clicking the View allowed / blocked apps link at the bottom of the settings screen or the Block or Allow App button on the Webcam Shield screen will bring you to the Menu > Settings > General > Blocked & Allowed apps section of the client UI, used by Webcam Shield, as well as Ransomware Shield, Sensitive Data Shield, and Browser Shield.

Here, you can configure individually each application that will be blocked/allowed and include whichever of the available shields/components. Rules set here will override the general configuration.

Clicking Block App or Allow App will open a dialog where you can either choose an active application directly from the list or click Select app manually to navigate elsewhere on the disk.

Once you select an app, define which shields/features are applied for that app, then click Add.

On the Blocked & Allowed Apps list, you will see the added applications and which components they apply to. You can edit or remove any listed app via its actions menu (three dots).

FAQ