How to Stop Websites Accessing Your Camera, Microphone, Location, and More
Cookies aren’t the only thing a website might attempt to access when you pay them a visit. They can also request access your device’s webcam, microphone, and all kinds of other functions or data.
Luckily, most web browsers allow you to control what websites can access from your devices. This article shows you how you can control what these sites can access.
What Can Websites Try to Access From Your Device?
As the functionality of websites and web apps advances, they need access to an increasing number of device functions to work. Some of the most common functions websites and apps may try to access include:
Websites and apps may also request access to send you push notifications, automatically play media files, and a variety of other purposes. Most browsers require websites to request permission for access to your device functions, using a prompt system.
This means you can allow or block access on a case-by-case basis, every time a website or web app requests permission. However, you can also manage default permission settings in your browser and change the settings for individual websites.
Let’s look at how you can do this in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge.
How to Manage Site Settings in Chrome
To manage website permissions in Chrome, clickSettings > Privacy and security > Site settings. Under the Permissions tab, you’ll see a short list of permissions websites and web apps can request.
To view the full list, click on theAdditional permissionstab.
This reveals the full list of site permissions settings you can control in Chrome.
From here, you can manage how websites access your device functions and data by changing permission settings.
For example, click onCamerain the list of permissions, and you can set the default behavior toSites can ask to use your cameraorDon’t allow sites to use your camera.
Allowing sites to ask for permission means you’ll receive a prompt in the browser every time a site requests access. This way, you can accept or block access upon each request. Alternatively, you can set the default behavior toDon’t allow sites to use your camera, and this will block all websites from requesting access.
On the same page, it’s possible to also view lists of websites granted access and blocked from each permission.
This allows you to review permission settings and remove specific websites at any time. For a more in-depth breakdown of Chrome site settings, we’ve also got an article listing23 website permissions to change in Chromefor better browsing.
How to Change Website Access Settings in Safari
To change website permissions in Safari, click onSettings > Websitesto view the list of permission controls on the left.
On the right, you’ll see a list of sites currently open in Safari and their permission settings. You can set these permissions toAsk,Deny, orAllowand set these as default settings for all websites using theWhen visiting other websitessetting on the bottom-right of the panel.
How to Set Website Permissions in Firefox
We’ve got an in-depth article showing how toset website permissions in Firefox, but here’s a quick run-through.
To change your settings, clickPreferences > Privacy & Securityand scroll down to the Permissions section.
From here, you can click on any permission to manage settings. Let’s say you want to control which websites can send you push notifications. Click onSettingsnext to theNotificationslabel and see the following box:
you’re able to see a list of the websites granted permission to send you push notifications. To block any website from sending notifications, simply click the tab under Status and change it toBlock. Alternatively, you can remove websites from the list, which means the site will send another request when it needs access in the future.
it’s possible to also prevent any websites not included on your permissions list from requesting access by selecting the checkbox labeledBlock new requests asking to allow notifications. Once you’re done, make sure you clickSave Changesto apply your settings.
How to Manage Website Permissions in Edge
Managing website permissions in Edge is almost identical to Chrome. First, clickSettings > Cookies and Site Permissionsto see the full list of permissions options available.
you may view and manage permissions for individual websites by clicking on theAll sitestab and selecting eitherAsk (Default),Allow, orBlock.
Alternatively, you’re able to manage settings for each permission from theSite permissionspage. Simply click on the permission you want to manage, and you’ll see two lists–one for blocked sites and another for sites given access.
You can unblock websites by removing them from your block list, and also remove any unwanted sites from your allow list. You’ll also see a toggle switch for theAsk before accessingsetting.
With this turned on, you’ll receive prompts every time a website requests permission to access your device. Turn this off and Edge will automatically block access to websites for this permission, meaning you’ll no longer receive any prompts.
Why It’s Important to Keep Track of Site Settings
Many websites and apps have legitimate reasons to access certain device functions. For example, a video calling app needs to access your device’s camera and microphone for obvious reasons.
Not all requests are essential, though. Let’s say you occasionally browse social media sites on your desktop, but you only ever post from your mobile. In this case, you may not want the web app to access your desktop’s images and media files or its camera.
More importantly, malicious websites can also try to access your device’s functions and data. So, it’s important to keep track of site settings in your browser(s) and regularly manage the list of websites gaining access to your devices. As cyber criminals develop increasingly sophisticated methods, it’s worth taking extra steps to check that your browser is safe and secure.
Your browser is your first line of defense against hackers and trackers, but how do you know it’s doing its job? Here are some free tools you can use.
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