Is Streamfog safe?

Yes. Streamfog is a desktop app from Streamfog Inc., and you can check the things that matter yourself. On Windows, the setup file, the desktop app installer, and the virtual camera runtime are digitally signed through Microsoft’s Azure Trusted Signing service, and setup checks each file it downloads against a published SHA-256 fingerprint before running it. On Mac, the app is signed with Streamfog’s Apple Developer ID and submitted to Apple for notarization. Streamfog doesn’t record or upload your camera video. Frames are processed on your own computer and passed straight to the Streamfog virtual camera or OBS browser source. You can remove the virtual camera at any time from Windows Settings, or from Streamfog’s own settings on a Mac.

Updated October 7, 2026

Install

What the installer does

Windows

The file you download, Streamfog-Setup.exe, is a small setup program. When it starts, Windows asks for administrator permission. The setup explains why on its first screen: it installs the Streamfog desktop app and the Streamfog Runtime, which powers the virtual camera.

What it does, in order:

  1. Downloads the current desktop app installer and runtime installer from Streamfog’s download server.
  2. Checks each file’s SHA-256 fingerprint against Streamfog’s published release manifest, and stops if they don’t match.
  3. Installs the desktop app for your Windows user, in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Streamfog, with a desktop shortcut.
  4. Installs the Streamfog Runtime in C:\Program Files\Streamfog\Runtime, keeping its settings and logs in %ProgramData%\Streamfog\Runtime.

If installing either part fails, setup rolls back what it already installed.

Mac

The Mac download is a disk image (.dmg) containing the Streamfog app. The app is signed with Streamfog’s Apple Developer ID, uses Apple’s hardened runtime, and is submitted to Apple’s notarization service with every production release. The release build fails if the notarization credentials are missing, and checks the app’s and camera extension’s signatures before it ships.

The app bundle also contains the Streamfog camera extension. It isn’t turned on just because you installed the app. See the virtual camera below.

macOS asks your permission before Streamfog can use your camera.

Code signing on Windows

Streamfog’s Windows releases are signed with Microsoft’s Azure Trusted Signing service. That covers the setup file, the desktop app installer, the runtime installer, and the runtime’s own program files, including the virtual camera driver. Each runtime release is checked automatically, and it won’t publish if any of its .exe or .dll files is unsigned or has an invalid signature. After install, the desktop app’s updater checks that each downloaded Windows update is signed by a publisher on its trusted list, and runtime updates are checked against a SHA-256 fingerprint before they install.

To check a file yourself, right-click it, choose Properties, and open the Digital Signatures tab. You should see a signature, and opening its details should say the signature is OK.

Linux

On Linux, Streamfog ships as a single AppImage file. It doesn’t install a virtual camera driver.

Virtual camera

The virtual camera, and how to remove it

A virtual camera is what lets OBS, Streamlabs, Zoom, Discord, and other apps pick Streamfog as a webcam. It’s the part of Streamfog that goes deepest into your system, so here’s exactly what it is on each platform.

Windows: a DirectShow camera

The Streamfog Runtime registers a DirectShow virtual camera called Streamfog VirtualCam. It runs as a Windows service named Streamfog Runtime that starts with Windows, so the camera is there when OBS or Discord looks for it. If you aren’t signed in, it shows a Streamfog placeholder image.

The Streamfog app talks to the runtime over a local connection on your PC. The runtime has no settings window of its own. Its logs are capped in size, and logs older than 7 days are deleted automatically.

Mac: a camera extension

On Apple silicon Macs, Streamfog includes a macOS camera extension (com.streamfog.desktop.cameraextension) that shows up as Streamfog Virtual Camera. macOS doesn’t enable it until you approve it in System Settings. Streamfog opens the Camera Extensions page for you.

The extension runs inside Apple’s App Sandbox, and its entitlements don’t include network access. Intel Macs don’t get the virtual camera.

How to uninstall it

Windows

  1. Open Settings, go to Apps, then Installed apps.
  2. Find Streamfog (uninstall here) and choose Uninstall.
  3. This stops and deletes the Streamfog Runtime service, unregisters the virtual camera, and removes both the runtime and the desktop app, so you don’t need to remove a separately listed Streamfog Runtime entry yourself. If some files are still in use, Windows asks you to restart to finish.

Uninstalling leaves the runtime’s settings and logs in %ProgramData%\Streamfog\Runtime so a reinstall picks up where you left off. If you’re not coming back, you can delete that folder yourself.

Mac

  1. Open Streamfog, click your profile, and choose Settings.
  2. On the Streamfog Virtual Camera card, click Uninstall and confirm. macOS may ask you to confirm too.

If you only want Streamfog to stop opening when you log in, turn off Launch on startup in the app’s Settings.

Privacy

What happens to your camera video and your data

Your camera video stays on your computer

Your webcam feed is processed on your computer. AR lenses are rendered by Snap’s Camera Kit running inside Streamfog, and the finished frames go straight to the Streamfog virtual camera or the OBS browser source. On Windows and Mac, the virtual camera runs the same Streamfog camera page (cam.streamfog.com) in an embedded browser on your machine, and hands the finished frames to the camera driver locally. Streamfog’s code doesn’t record your camera, and it doesn’t upload your video to Streamfog’s servers.

If you use your phone as a camera, the video goes from the phone to your computer over your local network (Android) or a USB cable (iPhone).

What Streamfog does collect

  • Account data: when you sign in, the login details needed to authenticate you, such as your email address, name, and the identifiers from the login method you choose.
  • Usage and diagnostic data: for example, which effects you turn on, error logs, and performance stats like frame rate, resolution, and graphics card model. These are numbers and text, not images. The website and the app also use Google Analytics.
  • Payments: if you buy Beauty Pro, Stripe processes the payment, and Streamfog doesn’t store your card details.

Streamfog doesn’t sell or rent your personal information. You can ask to see or delete your data at any time. The full details, and how to make a request, are in the privacy policy and the terms of service.

Warnings

Antivirus, SmartScreen, and Gatekeeper warnings

Some antivirus tools and browsers flag new installers as suspicious until they’ve built up enough downloads. If you see a warning, first make sure the file came from streamfog.com. On Windows, check that it has a valid digital signature, as described above. Then:

  • Windows SmartScreen: click More info, then Run anyway.
  • macOS Gatekeeper: right-click the app and choose Open, then confirm.
  • Chrome or Edge download warning: click the warning and choose Keep.

If your antivirus blocks or removes Streamfog, ask in the Streamfog Discord and tell us which antivirus you use.

Company

Who makes Streamfog

Streamfog is made by Streamfog Inc., the company that operates streamfog.com and is named in the privacy policy and terms of service. You can see the people behind it, including the maintainer, the community manager, and the 3D artists, on the team page.

The fastest way to reach us is the Streamfog Discord, where the team and other streamers answer questions. You can find more setup and troubleshooting answers in the Help Center.

Frequently asked questions

Is Streamfog a virus?
No. Streamfog is a desktop app for AR effects, beauty filters, and avatars that you can use in OBS, Zoom, Discord, and other camera apps. On Windows, the setup file, the desktop app installer, and the virtual camera runtime are digitally signed, and the setup checks every file it downloads against a SHA-256 fingerprint before running it. On Mac, the app is signed with Streamfog's Apple Developer ID and submitted to Apple for notarization. Some antivirus tools and browsers flag new installers they haven't seen often. If that happens, make sure you downloaded from streamfog.com and that the file shows a valid digital signature.
Is Streamfog free?
Yes. Streamfog is free to download and use. Beauty filters are free forever with a Streamfog watermark on your output; the optional Beauty Pro plan removes the watermark. Payments are handled by Stripe, so Streamfog doesn't store your card details. See streamfog.com/beauty/pricing/ for current prices.
Does Streamfog record my camera?
No. Streamfog doesn't record your camera or upload your video. Frames from your webcam are processed on your own computer and passed straight to the Streamfog virtual camera or OBS browser source. Streamfog does collect account details and usage data, such as which effects you turn on and performance stats like frame rate, as described in the privacy policy.
Why does the Windows installer need administrator permission?
Setup installs the Streamfog Runtime alongside the desktop app. The runtime registers the Streamfog virtual camera with Windows and runs it as a background Windows service so OBS, Zoom, Discord, and other apps can find it. Registering a camera device and installing a service both require administrator rights.
How do I uninstall the virtual camera?
On Windows, open Settings, go to Apps, then Installed apps, and uninstall "Streamfog (uninstall here)". That stops and removes the Streamfog Runtime service, unregisters the virtual camera, and removes the desktop app. Windows may ask you to restart to finish removing files that are in use. On a Mac, open Streamfog, click your profile, choose Settings, and click Uninstall on the Streamfog Virtual Camera card. macOS may ask you to confirm.
Does Streamfog have a virtual camera on Mac?
Yes, on Apple silicon Macs. Streamfog installs a macOS camera extension called Streamfog Virtual Camera. macOS doesn't turn it on until you approve it in System Settings, and Streamfog opens the Camera Extensions settings page for you. The Mac virtual camera isn't available on Intel Macs.
Who makes Streamfog?
Streamfog is made by Streamfog Inc., the company named in Streamfog's privacy policy and terms of service. You can meet the team at streamfog.com/team/ and talk to them in the Streamfog Discord.

Ready to try it?

Streamfog is free to download for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Pick your platform on the download page.

Go to downloads