**<WRAP centeralign><fs 1.8em><color #0065cd> WEBCAM SHIELD – GETTING STARTED </color></fs></WRAP>**
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**Webcam Shield**, available in **Avast Premium Security**, prevents applications and malware from accessing your PC’s webcam without your consent. With Webcam Shield enabled, untrusted applications cannot capture images or videos, or send these contents outside of your PC. \\ \\ 

**<fs 1.5em>Disable Webcam Shield</fs>** \\ \\ 
Webcam Shield is enabled by default. We recommend always keeping Webcam Shield enabled and only disabling it for temporary troubleshooting purposes. \\ 

To disable Webcam Shield: \\ 

1. Open Avast Premium Security, then select **Privacy ▸ Webcam Shield.** \\ 

{{:home:knowledge_base:webstation:software:avast:webcam_shield_1.png?direct 750|Webcam Shield 1}}

2. Click the green (ON) slider, then specify for how long Webcam Shield will remain disabled.

{{:home:knowledge_base:webstation:software:avast:webcam_shield_2.png?direct 750|Webcam Shield 2}}

3. Click **OK, Stop** to confirm.

{{:home:knowledge_base:webstation:software:avast:webcam_shield_3.png?direct 750|Webcam Shield 3}}

Webcam Shield is now disabled. To manually enable it, click the red (OFF) slider so that it changes to green (ON). \\ \\ \\ 

**<fs 1.5em>Modify Settings</fs>** \\ \\ 
Webcam Shield offers three behavior modes for how it handles applications that attempt to access your webcam. To select your preferred mode:

Open Avast Premium Security, then select **Privacy ▸ Webcam Shield**.

{{:home:knowledge_base:webstation:software:avast:webcam_shield_modify_settings_1.png?direct 750|Webcam Shield}}

2. Click  **Settings** (the gear icon) on the top-right corner.

{{:home:knowledge_base:webstation:software:avast:webcam_shield_modify_settings_2.png?direct 750|Webcam Shield}}

3. Select your preferred mode:

  * **Smart Mode** (selected by default): Automatically allows trusted applications to access your webcam. If an untrusted application attempts to access your webcam, a notification appears asking you to allow or block the application. After selecting an option, the application appears on the Blocked & Allowed apps list where you can view its status and select additional actions.
  * **Strict Mode**: Notifies you every time any application attempts to access your webcam and allows you to decide if the application is blocked or allowed. After selecting an option, the application appears on the Blocked & Allowed apps list where you can view its status and select additional actions. You can disable the notifications by ticking **Don’t show Webcam Shield reminders**.
  * **Disabled Webcam Mode**: Notifies you every time any application attempts to access your webcam and automatically blocks it. You can disable the notifications by ticking **Don’t show Webcam Shield reminders**.

{{:home:knowledge_base:webstation:software:avast:webcam_shield_modify_settings_3.png?direct 750|Webcam Shield}}

<WRAP round info>
**NOTE:** Webcam Shield determines trusted applications based on Avast Reputation Services, which reviews the application’s certification information and analyzes how many users have the application installed. </WRAP> \\ 

**<fs 1.5em>Troubleshoot issues</fs>** \\ \\ 
Refer to the information below to troubleshoot common issues:

  * **Webcam Shield displays pop-ups too frequently**: Ensure that **Smart Mode** is selected in Webcam Shield settings. If Webcam Shield is set to **Strict Mode**, Avast notifies you every time any application attempts to access your PC’s webcam.
  * **Your PC’s webcam stopped working**: Ensure that **Smart Mode** or **Strict Mode** is selected in Webcam Shield settings. If Webcam Shield is set to **Disabled Webcam Mode**, Avast prevents all applications from accessing your PC’s webcam. \\ \\ \\ 

Credits:[[https://support.avast.com/en-my/article/Use-Antivirus-Webcam-Shield/#pc|Avast]]