Random sound of screen capture

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Level 1

8 points

Random sound of screen capture

I have a fairly new Mac Pro with up-to-date OS X 10.6.2. Lately (like maybe for the past 2 weeks) I randomly hear a noise that sounds exactly like /Applications/Utilities/Grab.app/Contents/Resources/OpenShutter.snd followed by /Applications/Utilities/Grab.app/Contents/Resources/CloseShutter.snd . It's as though a screen grab (or even a camera snapshot) is being taken in background. The volume of the sounds is lower than that of an actual Shift-Apple-3 screen grab. I haven't noticed the camera light being on so I suspect it's not coming from the camera.

I have been keeping an Activity Monitor window up but have yet to see anything suspicious.

I have rebooted and it happens after a reboot.

It happens when Safari , Mail, and Adium are shut down -- so it's not a sound from either of those apps.

It can go hours without happening, and sometimes it happens with only a few minutes between.

Are there any programs that might be being used for a surreptitious screen shot?

Any other ideas as to what this might be?

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Mar 21, 2010 10:12 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 21, 2010 12:19 PM in response to beaubeaubeau

It could be a sound snippet from an add on a web page that you are viewing.

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Answer 2

beaubeaubeau Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 21, 2010 12:31 PM in response to DaddyPaycheck

That was one of my first thoughts too -- that's why I shut down Safari. Anything else you can think of?

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Answer 3

Mar 21, 2010 1:36 PM in response to beaubeaubeau

My bad. I missed that part.

Are you sure it is coming from the Mac? Have you tried shutting it down just to be sure?

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Answer 4

Mar 21, 2010 3:06 PM in response to beaubeaubeau

In System Preferences > Appearance I have the Items and Documents set to 20 items.

This give me a List in the Apple Menu Recent Items of the things that have been opened.

It does not list Screen Grabs on my computer but it may provide clues.
Is any Screen Grab app open ? (Skitch Or SnapzProX spring to mind).

Is your Desktop getting littered with files/pics ?

Any Automator thing you have tried out for similar actions ?

Juts throwing up ideas.

10:05 PM Sunday; March 21, 2010

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Answer 5

beaubeaubeau Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 22, 2010 5:08 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Thanks! The Recent Items idea is a very good one. I just cleared that menu so I can be watching there. Desktop only has that screen captures that i've purposefully taken.
I've never used Automator.

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Answer 6

Mar 22, 2010 5:13 AM in response to beaubeaubeau

Does this happen when you double-click a document or application?

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Answer 7

beaubeaubeau Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 22, 2010 7:19 AM in response to DaddyPaycheck

No, just randomly -- even I have don't have my hands on the keyboard/mouse.

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Answer 8

Mar 22, 2010 12:31 PM in response to beaubeaubeau

You said you had not noticed the Camera Light coming On.

It does in fact come On when you use iChat or Photo Booth ?

In System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver do you have any Add On Screen Savers ?
I had one for Leopard that would produce a Mercury fluid type response to movement and show the pic on the Screen Saver. (I forget what it was called.)

DO you have any Nanny Cam items Installed ? (Security Spy or Evocam are two)
These would normally show when the camera is active and in my experience also do not cause the Shutter sound.

I would also ask what is in the list in System Preferences > Accounts > your account > Login Items ?
My Leopard one

iTunes Helper tends to be common.
We may be looking for a Automator item or an Applescript item in addition to any App that may be taking pics.

Also consider something that is randomly playing sounds.
A Camera Shutter sound has not been added to iTunes and getting picked up as a shuffle item ?

7:31 PM Monday; March 22, 2010

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