How can I run a built in laptop camera in the background? - Page 2 - The Voyeur Forum

virgilcrem · 01-17-2010, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drdrdr

Hmm, then I will probably need a way to remotely access it

I know a software that can interest you. It's half a RAT / half a spy cam tool.
This allows you to remotely turn the webcam on and then record the pictures in jpeg format.
If you want, I think you can even make it run locally (the server and the client programs are on the same computer).
The prog is named cammy and is under developement for now, but by slightly modifying it, it's really usefull and stealth.
If you're interested, I could make a kind of tutorial.

V · 01-17-2010, 10:56 PM

I just tried out the yawcam and it is by far the best setup i have seen. Only issue is when the user wants to use the camera, it is already running and it will tell them that.

I test installed it on my laptop and followed the instructions over at the yawcam website and it is undetectable. Use the "services" setting. (you will see when you go to the website what i mean).

I am going to go to the next step and install it on my nieces comp. She never uses the camera so it will be interesting to see what i catch.

It installs quickly and is easy to setup which makes this ideal for quick installs on new comps. I will keep you updated on any issues, etc... that arise.

theotherguy · 01-25-2010, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottgames

...This does not work if you "log off" only if you "switch users."

Sorry, my advice above was technically wrong and scott is right. Logging off will shut down your programs. I meant to say "Lock Computer" instead of log off. This can be done on most laptops with quick launch buttons or automatically when the screensaver activates on XP *if you set it up in the desktop properties that way.

davethug · 01-25-2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V

I am going to go to the next step and install it on my nieces comp. She never uses the camera so it will be interesting to see what i catch.

you forgot the last part of your 2nd sentence:

".....catch, and then upload anything I do get to this forum!"

yes please!

drdrdr · 02-02-2010, 03:35 AM

Okay, I am going to use Yawcam. Is there a program that I can use to turn on and off Yawcam via the LAN connection?

Alchemist · 02-02-2010, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V

I just tried out the yawcam and it is by far the best setup i have seen. Only issue is when the user wants to use the camera, it is already running and it will tell them that.

I test installed it on my laptop and followed the instructions over at the yawcam website and it is undetectable. Use the "services" setting. (you will see when you go to the website what i mean).

I am going to go to the next step and install it on my nieces comp. She never uses the camera so it will be interesting to see what i catch.

It installs quickly and is easy to setup which makes this ideal for quick installs on new comps. I will keep you updated on any issues, etc... that arise.

Yup, I tried searching a few years back for suitable voyeuring software and Yawcam did have nice features.. it's FREE.. has motion sensing, but I didn't pursue it because I was testing everything I could lay my hands on at the time and then lost interest, but now you guys mention it (thanks to knibtom too), it's probably worth collectively ironing out the bugs and seeing what it will do.

just to whet your appetites.. Google for Yawcam webcams.. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...meta=&aq=f&oq=

and a fairly typical Yawcam streaming webcam http://146.83.193.161:8080/ the difference in quality between 30% and & 75% seems marginal, which is worth knowing.

and a few screenshots from Yawcam.. http://www.yawcam.com/screenshots.php

Now my wife has her own wi-fi netbook with built-in webcam that she doesn't use I can see how it performs on real missions. Let's go

Alchemist · 02-02-2010, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drdrdr

Okay, I am going to use Yawcam. Is there a program that I can use to turn on and off Yawcam via the LAN connection?

We need to work on a discreet way to get Yawcam to start at startup, but just to test the process on a LAN or Wi-fi...
Enable "Stream" in the Yawcam ControlPanel
Go to "Help" > "What's My URL?"
and you'll be shown 4 addresses, choose the lower stream address and enter it into a browser, and the cam stream will appear in the browser. (BTW protect the stream with a usename and password)

Quote:

Q: How do I start Yawcam when Windows starts?
A: The easiest way is to copy the Yawcam shortcut from your desktop to your startup folder in the Windows start menu. This will make Yawcam start automatically when Windows starts...

Ok but if you do that you do get a Yawcam logo acroos your desktop for a few seconds as Yawcam boots up.. which is OK if you can live with it as you can hide Yawcam once it's started.. but there are all sorts of notifications that need to be turned off.. eg show bubble when viewer joins online (should be voyeur

)

So check before you install this that all of the bells and whistles are turned off.. I'm creating a list as I go.

Alchemist · 02-02-2010, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V

I test installed it on my laptop and followed the instructions over at the yawcam website and it is undetectable. Use the "services" setting. (you will see when you go to the website what i mean).

V can you help me out here.. I've searched everywhere on the Yawcam website to find info on the "service mode" and apart from a few references to it on the forum, and the fact that it was added in version 0.3.1 I can't find anything on it in the Help files.. or those wonderful instructions you mentioned (beyond the help files) I have searched EVERY help file on the website for the info.

There used to be a "No splash screen at starup" and" Stealth Mode" but both have been replaced by the "Service Mode" so we need to enable it.

Thanks

Alchemist · 02-02-2010, 03:59 PM

Yippee.. I found the info on the Beta forum..

Quote:

Here follows some info about running Yawcam as a service:

Run Yawcam as a Service - README

Info
****
It is possible to run Yawcam as a service. This means that Yawcam is running silent in the background as soon as Windows starts. A service is running even before a user has logged in to the system and is still running if all users have logged off. (More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_service)
When Yawcam is running as a service you will not see the Graphical User Interface. This is why it is important to start Yawcam as usual first and change the settings as preferred. You probably want to enable for example the HTTP output at startup. (Settings -> Edit Settings... -> Startup)

How to:
1) Start Yawcam as usual.
2) Change the settings as you like.
3) Enable wanted output type at startup.
4) Exit Yawcam.
5) Install the service.
6) Start the service.

Install the service
*******************
From Windows start menu click:
"Start -> All programs -> Yawcam -> Service -> Install Service"

The service is now installed but not started. It will automatically start next time you start the computer. However you can manually start it right away without restarting the computer. More info below...

Start/stop the service
**********************
Start or stop the service manually from Windows start menu. Click:
"Start -> All programs -> Yawcam -> Service -> START service"
or
"Start -> All programs -> Yawcam -> Service -> STOP service"

Uninstall the service
*********************
You can manually uninstall the service from Windows start menu. Click:
"Start -> All programs -> Yawcam -> Service -> Uninstall Service"

(The service will also be uninstalled if you uninstall Yawcam.)

Known problems
**************
If the service is running and Yawcam is started the ordinary way at the same time, no warning messages will be displayed.

/malun
http://www.yawcam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647

I've run out of time to try it today but that is the answer as V said.
God knows how V found that info!!!

Alchemist · 02-02-2010, 05:02 PM

Just enough time to say it works great, totally invisible once you get the firewall permissions in place.

Only way to spot it is.. Ctrl-Alt-Del and its shown on "Processes" tab as "Yawcam_Service", no tray icon, no splash screen.. nothing to give it away.

Also make sure as part of the setup you uncheck

Settings > Output > Stream > Additional Settings > (Uncheck) Show info balloon when a viewer connects

Otherwise you could alert the user when you connect to the cam..

Also I did spot on the forum there is a workaround that will enable them to use their cam for themselves, although you will lose the feed.

TTFN

PS has anybody been able to connect to their "Internet version" of the webcam on their own PC (rather than use the local connection), I can't do it, but that maybe normal.