Why does the new version of edge want to turn my web camera "ON"

Anonymous
2020-04-12T01:23:18+00:00

I have been using the new version of edge for a while now and have come to notice every time it loads up the software tries to turn the webcam connected to the computer "ON".

As I do not use Skype or there is no reason for Edge to need the camera I find it unreasonale for Microsoft to think it has a right to spy on me at my computer by using the camera without asking.I have put black tape over the camera lens on every computer I own that has a camera ( 2 Desktops and 3 Laptops).

This begs me to wonder what other means Microsoft is using to spy on our computers without our consent, I do wonder if there are people who have computers in their bathrooms and do not know they are being watched via the pinhole camera on top of the screen or watching some ones daughter as she is doing her homework on her computer unaware the camera is looking down her cleavage.

Microsoft Edge | Open the browser | Windows 10

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-12-09T10:32:43+00:00

    Yes indeed I can confirm without a shadow of doubt that the Webcam request from 'Edge' is STILL attempting to access my webcam this morning. Thank goodness for Norton.

    Without any doubt I think that anyone without the 'Safecam Feature' included in 'Norton' would still be wise to cover over their webcam lens's and mute their Microphones whenever they access things like their online banking or online purchasing. Another tip I would suggest is not to actually say the passwords when entering their details & Codes.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-12-09T02:01:30+00:00

    Yes I have just checked and its the same here, I don't use 'Bing' and Norton still has to Block Edge. But I shall have to take a look again tomorrow as my eyes wont stay open any longer Zzzzzzz

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-12-08T22:26:32+00:00

    Hi all, 

    I understand that the notification that Microsoft Edge was accessing your camera was alarming, so I'll do my best to explain why this was triggered. 

    There were two cases where Microsoft Edge would check for a connected capture device that may have caused this. The first was through Bing, where a check was occurring to determine if mic/camera buttons should be displayed. We've removed this check and now always display the mic/camera buttons. The second is in edge://settings, which we are in the process of changing to only occur on the capture devices settings page. 

    Note that while your antivirus software may have notified you that Edge was accessing your camera/microphone, your camera and microphone were never activated during this check to see if they were connected. This is why your settings for camera/microphone permissions (both within Edge and in general settings) did not come in to play. Microsoft Edge cannot access your camera/microphone without explicit permission. 

    You shouldn't be seeing that alert on opening the browser anymore (only on opening settings for now) but if you're seeing it anywhere else you don't expect or have any questions, let me know!

    -Alex

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-10-31T23:50:20+00:00

    No "About Microsoft Edge" under "Help & Feedback'. Is yours a US version (mine is)?

    I've disabled most Microsoft updates, since the updates tend to break various things on my laptop (HP Spectre 360, bought in 2016). Whenever an automatic update would happen I'd spend a week chasing and rolling back incorrect drivers. I can update to the "latest and greatest" version of Edge but for the same reason I've been reluctant to shoot myself in the foot.

    The version of Edge I have seems to work reasonably well, and since I disabled use of the camera by Edge its no longer an issue. I appreciate your efforts to help but for now I'll just stay with what I have and write the camera behavior off to a Microsoft bug - or failure to include an important feature.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-10-31T13:00:17+00:00

    Hi, Mine reads 86.0.622.58. So if you got to the 3 dots top right, then "Help & Feedback" then "About Microsoft Edge" it will check for any updates and install them for you.  (I've just done my Laptop as I type to make sure). Then you have to do a "Restart" to complete. Hope this helps

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