This tutorial helps you to maintain confidentiality and see applications with microphone access on Mac computers. Applications that can access the microphone after having previously offered access to this component that can compromise confidentiality by spying on the environment.
The times have passed in which a "flashlight" application for Android demanded access to contacts in the agenda. However, there are many applications that if we are not careful we can offer access to the web / photo or microphone. Including applications for Mac, iPhone or iPad, which are theoretically safe in terms of confidentiality.
Some applications require access to the MAC microphone as soon as they are first launched after installation, while other applications require access when vocal dictation or voice dialing are used.
You do not have to be obsessed that you can be spied on through the microphone, but it is good to be cautious and do not provide access to the microphone except to applications that necessarily need.
For example, I do not understand why immediately after installation, the Opera application requires access to the microphone. I do not intend to use vocal dictation or any voice calling application.
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How do you see applications with microphone access on Mac computers?
If you are curious to see applications with microphone access on computers Mac, follow the steps below (the tutorial is made on the system macOS Sonoma):
1. Open ”System Settings"Then go to the side bar at the settings for"Privacy & Security"Then to the component"Microphone“.
2. to the option ”Microphone"Find the applications that have access to the Mac or Macbook computer microphone.
From here you can disable the access of an application to the microphone. In my case it has access only ”Parallels Desktop". On the app"WhatsApp"For Mac I do not allow video or audio calls.
In this section you will not find Apple apps or services. Phone, facetime or siri.
Also from "Privacy & Security"You can see the applications that have access to photo / video capture with the help of"Camera"Or to other components such as: Bluetooth, HomeKit, Input Monitoring, App Management.
How do you see when an app uses the microphone or webcam?
For both iPhone and Mac / MacBook, Apple has added a feature to visually notified by a specific icon when the microphone or webcam is used.
The icon is present in the menu bar (Menu Bar) both at the icon Control Center as well as separately.
The user can see through a simple click the application that uses the microphone (or webcam) at that time and the specific settings.
