can the laptop webcam be activated without the light on?

[Guest]

i have a Toshiba laptop and when i joined msn messenger to video call the
family it told me that the webcam was "in use in another video call or
program" but the light was not on and had nothing else going except the msn
messenger!

the problem has since resolved itself but makes me wonder !

could someone have been spying? ( hackers? programs?)

can built in laptop webcam even work without the activity light?


thanks in advance.
KEN.

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Could be malware, could be just a software glitch. The only recommendation
is to run a scan of the system with your Antivirus utility and Anti-Spyware
program.

 

[Guest]

Ran norton as a precaution any way
prob just a malfuncion.

and BRINK the mrs user account was logged off at the time.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Ken;
"can built in laptop webcam even work without the activity light?"
That would depend on how the camera is wired.
If the light gets a different signal then it is possible.
My guess is the light is wired with the camera and if one is on, both
will be on with no software possibility.
But that is just a guess and of course camera manufacturers may do it
differently from each other.

 

[dennis@home]

i have a Toshiba laptop and when i joined msn messenger to video call the
family it told me that the webcam was "in use in another video call or
program" but the light was not on and had nothing else going except the
msn
messenger!

the problem has since resolved itself but makes me wonder !

could someone have been spying? ( hackers? programs?)

can built in laptop webcam even work without the activity light?

It depends on how its wired.
There isn't even a light on mine.
Take a hint from web cam manufacturers who fit lids/flaps.. fit a bit of
cardboard or similar over the lens to be 100% certain.