An apparatus adapted to authenticate a photo-shutter sound in a mobile station comprises a controller adapted to compare a sound level of the photo-shutter sound against a reference level, and a photo-shutter sound determination unit operatively coupled to the controller, adapted to determine whether allow use of the photo-shutter sound by the mobile station based on a result of comparison by the controller. If the sound level of the photo-shutter sound is less than the reference level, then the photo-shutter sound determination unit may determine to forbid downloading of the photo-shutter sound to the mobile station. Alternatively, if the sound level of the photo-shutter sound is less than the reference level, then the photo-shutter sound determination unit may determine to forbid storage of captured images by the mobile station using the photo-shutter sound.