Discovering concealed cameras in hotels and vacation rentals is effortless with these three simple methods.

In 2019, about 60% of Americans expressed concern over the presence of concealed cameras in Airbnb homes.

According to a survey by IPX1031, 11% of vacation home renters reported discovering a hidden camera during their stay.

Over 30,000 cases of secret filming were reported to the police in South Korea between 2013 and 2018, as per Human Rights Watch.

The growing accessibility and affordability of spy cameras, along with the public's increasing ability to detect them, have led to a proliferation of hidden spy camera reports, according to Kenneth Bombace, CEO of Global Threat Solutions.

Experts reveal easy ways to detect concealed surveillance devices in hotel rooms and vacation rentals.

1. Conduct a physical search

Bombace advised starting the search for hidden cameras in bathrooms and bedrooms when looking for them.

Guests must be informed and cameras cannot be placed in private spaces, as per Airbnb's policy, which allows hosts to have cameras in their homes.

Most covert cameras are hidden in household gadgets, including lights, thermostats, and wall-mounted clock radios, according to Bombace.

Inspect anything that appears unusual and examine it more closely, he advised.

Bombace stated that most spy cameras are powered by an electrical source or an electronic device.

He stated that his initial action upon entering a bedroom is to remove the clock radios from their positions and store them in a drawer.

Michael O'Rourke, CEO of Advanced Operational Concepts, stated that he does exactly that.

Bombace stated that even well-concealed cameras will have a small amount of reflective glass from the lens.

Using flashlights to illuminate suspected camera hiding spots and observing the reflection can help detect cameras, according to him.

But O’Rourke said care is needed to accurately locate hidden lenses.

O'Rourke stated that while many individuals may attempt amateur lens detection, which can be successful, failing to employ a thorough search methodology can result in missing crucial information.

2. Look at the Wi-Fi network

In order to be viewed remotely, a hidden camera must be connected to a local Wi-Fi network, according to Bombace.

Fing is a Wi-Fi scanning app that can detect cameras on a network, he stated.

Wi-Fi scanning apps can detect the number of networks in a residence, even if those who hide cameras use a separate Wi-Fi network to stream live video footage, according to Bombace.

A network scanner may not detect all threats, cautioned Kody Kinzie, a security researcher at Varonis.

He suggested looking for devices that were broadcasting their own network name as the next step.

Kinzie suggested using apps such as WiGLE to discover devices that are broadcasting Bluetooth and Wi-Fi network names.

3. Buy a spy camera detector

Radio frequency detectors can be purchased online from websites such as Amazon or AliExpress to scan for hidden cameras.

If the hidden camera is transmitting data, this method works, according to O'Rourke.

O'Rourke stated that many of them now have SD cards that store data to be retrieved later, making them harder to detect.

While it is possible to purchase a radio frequency scanner, the lower-priced options may not be of high quality.

As Bombace stated, the quality of a product is often reflected in its price. If something costs $30, it may not be of the highest quality. On the other hand, better options may come with a higher price tag, ranging from hundreds to over $1,000.

What to do if you find a camera

Disconnect the camera without damaging it after finding it, as the firmware may contain sensitive information such as login credentials and the Wi-Fi network it was connected to, according to Kinzie.

O'Rourke advised reporting any hidden cameras found in hotel rooms to the front desk and moving to another hotel instead of requesting another room.

If you discover a camera in one room, I wouldn't trust any other room in the entire hotel, he stated.

Bombace advised reporting concealed cameras to the police, even if it's only for record-keeping, in case legal action or criminal charges arise.

He suggested providing the report to Airbnb to prevent the person from repeating the behavior.

Ultimately, Bombace stated that he would not avoid renting a home despite concerns about spy cameras.

He advised taking basic precautions to safeguard oneself and acknowledging that one is not in a familiar environment.