Webcam Shield - Getting Started

Webcam Shield, available in the latest version of Avast Premier, prevents applications and malware from accessing your PC's webcam without your consent. With Webcam Shield enabled, untrusted applications can not capture images or videos and send the content outside of your PC to compromise your privacy.

Refer to the sections in this article for instructions on using Webcam Shield:

Access Webcam Shield

Webcam Shield is available in the latest version of Avast Premier and is enabled by default. To access or disable this feature, follow these steps:

1. Open the Avast user interface and go to Privacy ▸ Webcam Shield.
2. To disable the feature, click the green slider (ON) so that it changes to red (OFF).

Adjust Webcam Shield behavior

To adjust Webcam Shield behavior, follow these steps:

1. Open the Avast user interface and go to Privacy ▸ Webcam Shield.
2. Use the slider at the bottom of the screen to select an option:
   • Smart: 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 Webcam Shield Settings screen where you can view its status and select additional actions.
   • Strict: notifies you each time any application attempts to access your webcam and allows you to decide if the application is blocked or allowed. After selecting to block or allow an application, the application appears on the Webcam Shield Settings screen where you can view its status and select additional actions.
   • No Mercy: automatically blocks all applications that attempt to access your webcam.

Manage blocked and allowed applications

When Webcam Shield is set to Smart or Strict, you receive notifications when applications attempt to access your PC's webcam. After you select Block or Allow in the notification dialog, the application appears on the Webcam Shield Settings screen. To access Settings and manage the status of the application, follow these steps:

1. Open the Avast user interface and go to Privacy ▸ Webcam Shield.
2. Click the gear icon on the right-hand side of the Webcam Shield screen.
3. In the row of the application you want to manage, click the downward facing arrow next to the application's status and select Block or Allow.

To remove an app from the list, hover your cursor over the app's row and click the X icon.