What the Tech: Are hidden cameras spying on you in hotels, rental properties?
By JAMIE TUCKER Consumer Technology Reporter
Suspecting there might be a hidden or spy camera in the hotel room, Airbnb, or cruise ship cabin is enough to keep you up at night.
There have been many reports through the years of renters finding hidden cameras in bedrooms and bathrooms.
Earlier this month a Royal Caribbean employee was arrested on federal charges of child pornography after he was accused of installing hidden cameras in passenger bathrooms.
Now, Airbnb is notifying property owners that they will no longer be allowed to install indoor security cameras, even if they previously made guests aware of the cameras before they reserved their stay.
The ban goes into effect at the end of April.
Rules and laws do not eliminate the threat of hidden cameras. Guests of any rental property are susceptible to being victimized by a property owner or staff member intent on recording or streaming video from a hidden camera.
Many hidden cameras can be spotted if you know where and how to look.
The first thing anyone should do when staying in a rental property is to check the plugs and wires. Many older and inexpensive hidden cameras require electricity.
Check each wall outlet and follow the wires until you find the device that’s plugged in. Look inside decorative baskets, stuffed animals, shelves, and countertops.
Use a flashlight. The one on your phone will do. Turn off the lights and shine the torch across the bookshelves. If there is a camera your flashlight will pick up a reflection. It’s best to turn off the lights for this.
To see ahead of time what to look for, use the flashlight and shine it into your TV remote. That will reflect the IR lens to show there’s a camera lens.
Many smartphone apps claim to detect hidden cameras. Be cautious before spending money on a subscription. Some of these apps may charge $6 or more weekly and there’s no consensus on them actually finding something.
Some of these apps claim to use the phone’s magnetometer to detect the use of a camera while others say they will scan the WiFi network for connected devices. That may work to some degree but many hidden cameras do not use WiFi. I purchased a subscription to one of these apps and it did not detect WiFi and non-WiFi cameras on my shelf.
Take note of USB charging hubs, alarm clocks, and smoke detectors. Devices such as these can be found online and include a hidden camera.
Is there a smoke detector in a strange place like over a bed or in the bathroom? Inspect it.
Remove the cover and look inside. If there is a camera you will see it. One hidden camera smoke detector I purchased online held a slot for an SD card and would record video when it detected movement.
If you do discover a hidden camera in your rental property, hotel room, or cruise ship cabin, it’s essential to take action. Contact local authorities and notify the management or agency responsible for the property. By reporting these incidents, you not only protect yourself but also contribute to the safety and security of fellow travelers.
