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Last Seen/Last Activity on Skype?

ghost skype? malware?

  • A few minutes ago, my macbook pro (OSX 10.6.8) played what I think was the Skype incoming call chime. I didn't think Skype was running, and as I was Cmd-Tabbing through applications to see if I'd accidentally left Skype turned on, the webcam light briefly flashed. Skype wasn't running, but I double-checked by starting Activity Monitor, and didn't see any processes with Skype in the name.I'm not totally sure it was the skype chime, because I don't use skype often. I do have google chat running in gmail with video chat enabled, but there were no visible notifications in the gmail window. I suppose it could've been a deceptive flash ad in a browser tab, but it's the webcam light that creeps me out. Any ideas what might have happened? Should I find a malware scanner? Is that even a thing? The last ask.metafilter match for "osx malware" is almost 2 years old.

  • Answer:

    Might be best to run some scans anyway http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/03/rat-breeders-meet-the-men-who-spy-on-women-through-their-webcams/

moonmilk at Ask.Metafilter.Com Visit the source

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Never mind. It was google chat. Friend's android phone was accidentally sending video chat requests, and the chat request doesn't leave a visible trace when it's been cancelled. That doesn't explain why google turns on the webcam without waiting for me to accept the chat.

moonmilk

If Google chat is like Android in that regard, it shows you a little preview of the picture you'd send while you get ready to accept, which I find rather helpful and not cause for paranoia.

themel

I suppose that's reasonable. Better if one knows about it in advance, though!

moonmilk

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