December 11, 2017 For Administration
Cameras built into computers can be very useful, especially if you enjoy using Skype or similar video calling programs. But those of you who don't use the camera a lot might get upset because it's enabled by default in Windows 10. Plus, built-in webcams are around these days and any user would have a hard time finding a version of Windows without a built-in camera. Security issues are a valid reason why you may want to disable your webcam, as webcams are often easy targets for malware. Regardless of the rapid technological advancement and new security measures created by Windows 10, webcams are still an effective tool for allowing suspicious sources to hack and spy on your system.
You can always enlist the help of external software to disable the webcam, but why give yourself so much trouble when you can easily use the Device Manager method?
Follow these simple steps to disable the built-in camera on your laptop / PC:
Alternatively - Simply search for Device Manager in the search box on the Windows 10 taskbar. Click on Device Manager.
Note: - On some other third party laptop / PC, you may find it with different names instead of imaging devices like: -
Sound, video and game controllers
o
cameras
Under Imaging Devices, right-click on "Integrated camera'and click Disable. You will get a message saying 'Deactivating this device will cause it to stop working. Do you really want to disable it? “Click Yes to disable the camera.
If the camera option doesn't say Built-in camera, make no mistake, your webcam name will be displayed in that space.
Note: - In case you feel the need to use the webcam later, just follow the steps mentioned above and select to allow after right clicking on the camera option.
If you want to verify that your built-in webcam has actually been disabled, click the Start button and go to Camera. If you see the “Connect to camera” message, your webcam has been disabled successfully. In case the webcam seems to continue to work, you have probably disabled another device, not the built-in webcam, and will need to go back to Device Manager and choose the correct device to disable.
The Device Manager method will work on Windows 10, as well as on Windows 7, 8, and 8.1.
Some webcam precautions
In addition to using this method, there are some security precautions you can take to protect the privacy of your camera. For example, you can try covering the camera with dull tape or cloth when not in use. Antivirus is essential if you use your webcam; A good antivirus may not always be able to guarantee complete protection against webcam hackers, but it can check for files received via webcam and issue warnings if it contains malware. Hence, it is a prudent measure for users with a camera built into their computers.
Many third-party software will also help you disable the webcam, but most users would prefer to use the simple Device Manager method, which, unlike any external software, doesn't involve downloading anything. This method is also foolproof and one hundred percent reliable, making it the best way to disable the built-in webcam.
