Predator Helios 500: webcam comes on automatically for when opening webpages & playing games

_albie_
_albie_ Member Posts: 44 Devotee WiFi Icon
edited November 2023 in 2020 Archives
Two examples:
1) I'll open Facebook, or Mega.nz and the webcam turns on for about 10 secs and then turns off again... WEIRD because I didn't give it permission and it didn't ask for permission
2) I'll play Quake Champions and the webcam turns on the entire time.

How can I prevent such blatant abuse of my webcame ?

Best Answer

  • Red-Sand
    Red-Sand ACE Posts: 1,892 Pathfinder
    Answer ✓
    I have the fix..

    Go to Wave Max Control Panel and disable Wave NX?
    I think thats what its called.

    If you can't find it let me know ill dig it up
    - Hotel Hero

Answers

  • Hi,
    You could try setting the Camera preferences in Privacy tab, go to Settings and click Privacy tile.

  • I have same issue and I disabled it completely. 

    Unless you tick the master off switch it still cuts on.
    For me it only auto enabled when I turned on Cortana. Weird.

    Haven't figured out what triggers it yet.
    - Hotel Hero
  • M4rdock
    M4rdock Member Posts: 86 Fixer WiFi Icon
    Red-Sand said:
    I have same issue and I disabled it completely. 

    Unless you tick the master off switch it still cuts on.
    For me it only auto enabled when I turned on Cortana. Weird.

    Haven't figured out what triggers it yet.
    I had EXACTLY same issue since day one, whats worse both my camera and microphone were working even when they shouldnt - browsing web, playing single player games, watching movies etc.

    I noticed that both camera and mic were also turning on randomly when computer was idle.
    I dunno if it was acer great idea to spy on users or maybe microsoft one?

    *tinfoil hat on*
    I seriously suspect  that in other laptops they also turn on automatically but you cant even notice this, its probably a bug that user is informed in helios 500 case lol
    *tinfoil hat off*

    I ended up disabling both cam and mic, only turn them on when they are needed.
  • Red-Sand
    Red-Sand ACE Posts: 1,892 Pathfinder
    Answer ✓
    I have the fix..

    Go to Wave Max Control Panel and disable Wave NX?
    I think thats what its called.

    If you can't find it let me know ill dig it up
    - Hotel Hero
  • Yup its Wave Nx

    Disable that and your good.


    - Hotel Hero
  • M4rdock
    M4rdock Member Posts: 86 Fixer WiFi Icon
    edited September 2018
    Red-Sand said:
    I have the fix..

    Go to Wave Max Control Panel and disable Wave NX?
    I think thats what its called.

    If you can't find it let me know ill dig it up
    But i have it disabled already,and my camera was still spying on me anyway  :/

    Not big problem for me tho, its not much work to enable it when its needed, maybe OP will have better luck with this wave nx trick lol
  • Whaaaaa... thought I was saving the day here... bummer.

    Worked for me though 😞
    - Hotel Hero
  • M4rdock
    M4rdock Member Posts: 86 Fixer WiFi Icon
    Red-Sand said:
    Whaaaaa... thought I was saving the day here... bummer.

    Worked for me though 😞
    XD
    Nah, first thing (well, almost first thing) i did was tampering with audio settings, demonic eye of my cam started to hunt me later ;)
  • _albie_
    _albie_ Member Posts: 44 Devotee WiFi Icon
    I agree, it's Wave Nx doing it.
    I toggled the switch for Wave NX and took screenshots... see the indicator showing webcam on and off


  • _albie_
    _albie_ Member Posts: 44 Devotee WiFi Icon
    so it seems Acer has a bug in this app ?
  • Red-Sand
    Red-Sand ACE Posts: 1,892 Pathfinder
    edited September 2018
    _albie_ said:
    so it seems Acer has a bug in this app ?

    I guess?
    WaveMaxx is usually on Dell systems I was suprised to see it on Acer. It could be some underlying setting with WaveMaxx... Ill test on my other laptops and see if its Acer specific.

    Glad it worked for you brother.
    - Hotel Hero
  • _albie_
    _albie_ Member Posts: 44 Devotee WiFi Icon
    edited September 2018
    I really like the sound that the Waves Nx creates, however, the constant CAMERA ON and CAMERA OFF notifications in the top-left corner is grinding my gears.
    By turning off Waves Nx, and using 7.1 Surround Sound headphones like these:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SAYCXWG

    Will I get the same excellent sound without the annoying Camera notifications ?
  • davelaw56
    davelaw56 Member Posts: 2 New User
    edited November 2018
    disabling Wave NX did the trick for me thanx it was annoying but i Hope they find a fix for this cause the sound was so great with it 
  • sigmaphi
    sigmaphi Member Posts: 11

    Tinkerer

    I just noticed it this morning and came here to find a solution 
    thanks for the help guys 

    Wave NX was the culprit 
  • TheZYX
    TheZYX Member Posts: 12

    Tinkerer

    Thanks guys, helped a lot. I was paranoid enough without the thought that the mic can be on and I would never notice. I put a little tape over the camera as I couldn't solve the issue.. low tech still works at times  :#
  • PL4GUE
    PL4GUE Member Posts: 1 New User
    Thanks for the help guys. Appreciate it :)