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December 15, 2006
"Flash spies on you"
"Flash spies on you": I'm bumping this up into my blog, because the two comments I've typed in at the site have yet to show up. Someone was trying to copy someone else's video (!) and became alarmed when they saw a dialog requesting permission to use the webcam. He asks "Is there any way to permanently disable this feature in Flash?" and the answer would be to not click that "allow" button... the ability is "permanently shut down"; all that is enabled is a permissions dialog to use the cam. I put the second version of my reply into the extended entry here, but the first version (now lost) was better worded. If you've got a client with doubts about Adobe's handling of security and privacy, then we need to learn what those doubts are, thanks.
[Let me try again... first comment never showed up.]I'm wondering what I could do to help set your mind at ease here... the connection abilities are already default-off, with explicit user permission required for any use. I've seen no way your cam/mic can be used without your permission.
For best security you might want to keep your webcam disconnected when not in use, to avoid the risk of other software installed on your machine using the camera.
What would you like to see, what would help you feel more comfortable here...?
tx, jd/adobe
Posted by JohnDowdell at December 15, 2006 6:26 AM