By now all laptops have an integrated webcam, as well as desktop PC monitors, thus becoming a common accessory for every PC user. The webcam is very useful, above all, to make video calls and to participate in video chat sessions but, for most of the time, it remains unused, becoming the prey of hackers who without great difficulty can create viruses that can activate the webcam without knowing it. who is using the computer.
Antiviruses should block this kind of infection, but to avoid getting any doubts, it is worth turning it off, when not in use, and activating the webcam only when needed.
So let's see, in this article, how to quickly activate and deactivate the webcam on each Windows PC and how to use it to try to see if it works well or to take photos .
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The fastest way to test the webcam on your computer if it has never been used is by opening the testmycam website which uses the flash plugin to use the webcam and view what it captures live.
The site also allows you to take photos and change the type of image.
It can also be noted that Chrome puts a red symbol on the card it is transmitting from the webcam.
If you do not see anything there are two possibilities: the flash plugin is not installed, and then it is worth trying to open the test site using Chrome that has the integrated flash, or the webcam is not attacked or correctly detected by Windows.
To verify that the webcam is working on the PC, open the control panel, go to hardware and sounds and then open the devices and printers link.
Press the right mouse button on the webcam, go to the properties and check, to the hardware tab, if the device works correctly.
If not, you need to install the driver to download from the manufacturer's website.
From the Hardware and Sound screen, you can click the device management link to check if the driver is active.
The webcam is under the device section for image acquisition .
From here you can disable the webcam by clicking on it with the right button.
To disable the webcam and activate it on command when needed, quickly and without making too many turns of windows and settings, you can use the handy Webcam On Off program.
The free tool, only to extract to a folder and run, allows you to try the webcam, activate and disable it with a click .
To disable the webcam make sure it is not in use by some program or website.
Webcam On / Off also allows you to adjust the display settings of the shots during the preview, with buttons to zoom in, zoom out, or take a photo of the image that appears in the webcam and save it on the PC.
The Settings allow you to adjust brightness, contrast, sharpness, saturation, gamma and hue.
Webcam On-Off is a useful program for those who often use the webcam connected to their PC and also for those who never use it, to keep it off without having to disconnect it.
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