Apple has gained a reputation for developing top of the line laptops and mobile devices for personal as well as business use. The company periodically releases OS updates that improve their product’s performance and in some cases even unlock new apps or features.
This was the case for Mojave OS, the most drastic Mac update in the last four years. Mojave does much more than introduce new features like Dark Mode. It also brings a long overdue cyber privacy update that limits the access apps get to your laptop’s microphone and camera.
Below, we’ll discuss the new updates to Mojave and tell you how you can stop apps from accessing your Mac’s camera and microphone.
At Catalyst Computers, our seasoned IT support team can help protect your company’s information and ensure high privacy standards. Whether it’s PC or Mac devices, our main goal is to have your company’s tech running at max capacity.
Why Would Apps Want to Access Your Mic and Camera?
Before diving into Mojave’s updates and the impact they have on your laptop, let’s look at the reasons why someone may want cyber access to your webcam or microphone. The reason why some apps that don’t use these tools may request access to your microphone or camera is for marketing reasons.
There are many unethical cyber marketing schemes out there, many of which use your microphone and webcam to develop tailored campaigns. This can violate the privacy of both businesses and individual users, resulting in inflated prices among other setbacks. Not to mention the fact that you’ll be bombarded by a huge amount of spam and malicious emails.
Our dedicated set services are designed to provide robust security solutions for companies of all sizes, regardless of the industry you’re in. From small local companies to large financial enterprises, our team can deliver tailored services for any business.
Security Upgrades in Mojave
Mojave was announced in June 2018, but it wasn’t until September that this update became available to Mac laptops and other devices. This new update brought anticipated safety and cyber privacy enhancements that limit the access that app shave to your Mac.
You may have noticed you could toggle the access for apps such as your calendar, contacts, and location in previous OS releases. But, the Mojave update also allows you to regulate which app is authorized to use your webcam and microphone.
How to Stop Apps from Accessing Your Camera and Mic
If you have installed Mojave, you’ll see that some cyber tools are already requesting permission before accessing your laptop’s microphone and camera. If you happened to inadvertently allows one of these apps to access either one or both of these functions, fear not!
There is still a way to ensure your privacy is being protected. Thanks to Mac’s latest OS update, all you have to do is go into your laptop’s settings to view and edit the app permissions.
Checking and Editing App Permissions
To see which apps have access to your microphone and other tools, you have to:
- Go to System Preferences
- Click on Security & Privacy
- Hit the Privacy tab
In the left-hand panel, you’ll be able to grant cyber access to your calendar, contacts, reminder, location and other common option. Below, you’ll see that the camera and microphone option have been added to the list.
Don’t rely on OS developers to set your security standards. Get a support team that can help ensure a safe environment for your customers and your employees!
Get Assistance from a Reliable IT Team
Although apps that use your laptop webcam and microphone may seem harmless, they are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cyber threats.
Having a reliable IT team at your disposal can help you prevent and solve any privacy or security issues that may arise due to a new update or other changes that are out of your control.
Get in touch with Catalyst Computers and our team of IT specialists will be happy to help. Give us a call or fill out our online contact form today!
