VDCAssistant process automatically being invoked when Flash in use

Report · Mar 30, 2012

I just updated my Flash to the latest version 11.2.202.228 on my 32-bit Mac Book Pro running OS 10.6.8.

As of this most recent update I found that the VDCAssistant process (the process that normally runs when using Image Capture/Photo Booth) decides to invoke itself whenever Flash is running even though I am not using my I-Sight Camera, nor Photo Booth or the Image Capture program and I have denied any web site from accessing my camera or microphone while running flash.

As soon as I start using any web site that features Flash on its web page, the Activity Monitor on my computer will show a process for VDCAssistant even though I am not running any program that uses my iSight Camera.

I went to pogo.com (for example) and the VDCAssistant process loaded. When I closed the window that had pogo.com on it, the VDCAssistant process eventually disappeared. The same thing happened with even the adobe.com web site. It's not a browser type issue because it happens while runing Safari OR Chrome.

Killing the VDCAssistant process while Flash is running just causes another VDCAssistant process to spawn in its place.

In addition to this, it seems as if my laptop fan is running more frequently with this new update than normal when I'm on a site that uses flash.

Has anyone else experienced this problem and is there a way of blocking VDCAssistant from even running because I have no reason to run the built-in camera on this computer?

Any comments or assistance is appreciated...!

Report · Apr 02, 2012

I see this same process, but I also see this behavior with Flash Player 11.1. Have you had any problems using your iSight with Flash based websites?

Chris

Report · Apr 02, 2012

I haven't had any need to use iSight with any Flash based web sites, it just took me aback when I found the VDC Assistant process running even though it has no need to be.

My computer fans were running quite often with this new 11.1 upgrade so I decided to see if there were any errant processes running and that's how I came upon the VDCAssistant process in Activity Monitor. I open a window that uses Flash (like pogo.com) and the VDCAssistant starts running. I close that window and a few moments later the VDCAssistant process goes away.

I went ahead and downgraded to a 10.x version and the VDCAssistant process doesn't appear now and also my computer fans aren't running as often as they were while running 11.x.

It just seems unusual to me that the VDCAssistant would have to load EVERY time when a Flash application is running even though I'm running Flash items that have NOTHING to do with the use of the camera. I play games over at pogo.com quite frequently and don't know why Flash needs to load up VDCAssistant when NO GAME on pogo.com uses my web cam to play a game.

Hope you can get this bug fixed soon or at least tell people (and myself) how to keep VDCAssistant from loading so we can get around this issue.

Report · Apr 02, 2012

I'm not sure I would correlate the VDCAssistant to higher CPU temperatures just yet. In my case, I don't see any CPU usage with this process, so I don't believe it's impacting my CPU's heat level.

Would you mind creating a new bug report over at bugbase.adobe.com so we can investigate this further? Please post back with the bug number or URL so that others affected can cast their votes and add comments. I'll also look into this internally.

Thanks,

Chris