Here are seven ways to figure out if a room has hidden cameras. Even if you do all of these things, you might still miss a hidden camera, so keep that in mind. They do make it much easier to find a hidden spy camera in the room, though. We’ll start with the ones that are the easiest.
Table of Contents
1. Look for strange things
When you walk into a new room, it’s a good idea to take a good look around. Keep an eye out for things that have been moved or put in the wrong place. Check out anything that doesn’t seem right or that doesn’t seem to belong.
Some people who bug a room do it quickly and can leave clues. Look for electrical outlets that don’t fit right, door locks that won’t work, and trash near the walls. If you’re in a place you know well and you see something new, make sure to check it out. If you find something that looks suspicious, you can always do a Google search on its brand or model number to see if it’s a hidden camera.
Check out the clocks, smoke detectors, and air filters in places you don’t know well, like hotel rooms and Airbnbs. You should check out a low-hanging clock (for Clock Hidden Camera), painting, or two smoke detectors that are close to each other. Also, check all of your electronics like Charger because there might be a Charger Hidden Camera and unplug the ones you won’t be using.
Remember that if a device has a hidden camera, turning it off or unplugging it might not turn the camera off. This is because spy cameras can have built-in batteries that can keep them running for hours or even days. Cover suspicious devices with a towel or piece of clothing just to be safe.
Suspicious!
If you have a mirror in your room, you should check to see if it’s a two-way mirror. Check to see if the mirror is on top of or built into the wall. If it’s built into the wall like a window, you should be suspicious. You could also knock on the mirror and listen to what it sounds like. If you knocked on a two-way mirror, it would sound different and more hollow than a regular mirror.
2. Use a light source
When it’s dark, the flashlight method works best. Use a bright light and shine it all over the room, especially in places that you think might be dangerous. As you move the light around, be careful to look for a reflection, especially one that is blue or purple.
The human eye isn’t very good at picking up small reflections, so flashing a light on a camera lens isn’t always enough to find it. With a smartphone camera, you might have a better chance of finding the infrared light that spy cameras give off.
3. Use the camera on your phone
Most surveillance cameras work by putting out infrared light. Infrared radiation is invisible, but your phone can help you find it. But not all phone cameras will work, especially the back cameras because they have infrared filters that block the light.
First, test your phone’s camera to make sure it can see infrared light. Take any remote control, point the front LED light at the front camera of your phone, and press a button on the remote. If your phone can see infrared, you’ll see a burst of white or purple light in the LED.
Photo of a person using their phone camera to see infrared radiation from a remote control
Isn’t that a cool shade of pink?
Close the blinds and turn off the lights so the room is completely dark. Use the camera on your phone to find sources of infrared radiation. If you see white or purple spots that flash, it is probably a camera lens. Keep in mind that most phones can probably only see infrared if you use the front camera.
4. Look for the Wi-Fi network
You can only find a hidden camera on the same Wi-Fi network as you if it is wireless and on the same network as you. This means that you only have a small chance of finding a spy camera this way, but it’s worth a shot.
For this method to work, you need to install an app that scans networks. Look for “Network Scanner” on Google Play or the App Store and install any app that looks real and has good ratings from users. Keep in mind that real apps don’t need a lot of permissions they don’t need.
Connect to the Wi-Fi and use the app to scan it. This lets you see what other devices are hooked up to it. Look for any clues that might show that a camera is there. The default name for most hidden cameras is IPcamera, and most people don’t bother to change it.
Make sure you connect to CyberGhost VPN when you use Wi-Fi in a hotel or other public place. We protect your traffic with military-grade encryption, which keeps you safe from people hiding on the network who might want to track what you do on the internet or hack into your device.
5. Check for interference by making a phone call
Most surveillance cameras send out radio waves that can make it hard to talk on the phone. If you move your phone close to a working camera while you’re on a call, you might hear crackling, buzzing, or other signal problems.
Call a friend and ask them to stay on the line while you move the phone around the room. This will help you find a spy cam. Put the call on speaker and move your phone close to places and things that look suspicious. If you notice that interference is getting worse in one place, you might have found a hidden camera.
Not all cameras send out radio waves, and your phone may not always pick up interference even if a camera is nearby.
6. Use an app to find hidden cameras
Installing a hidden camera detector app on your phone is a good idea because it gives you a way to look for all kinds of hidden cameras at once. Radiofrequency, infrared, and lens glare detection, as well as network scanning, are all used in a typical cam detector app. All of the above methods are combined into one app.
Using an app to find cameras makes your search easier and more effective, but you should never give an app your personal information. The recent controversy about period-tracking apps collecting and sharing information about their users’ periods gives us good reason to think that any other third-party app can also collect your information.
Connect to CyberGhost VPN to protect your digital identity before you install and use unknown apps. We hide your IP address so that you can go online without anyone knowing who you are. Always try to install trusted apps to lower the chance that your information will be taken.
7. Use a special device to find RF signals
Last but not least, a dedicated RF camera detector is a good way to find out if there are hidden recording devices. The device can pick up on the radio waves that wireless cameras send out very well.
That means you can easily find bugging devices, no matter how well they are hidden. If the device finds radiofrequency, it sends out sounds that get louder as you get closer to the source.
You can buy RF detectors in places like Amazon and other online shops. If you travel a lot, it may be a good idea to buy the device, even though it may hurt your wallet.
Bottom Line
It is a terrible crime to violate someone’s right to privacy. Even though it’s wrong, bad people will always want to watch you when you’re alone. This is why you should always be on guard.
Keep an eye out for strange things and signs that someone might be watching you. When you go to a new hotel or Airbnb, use the methods I’ve talked about above to thoroughly check out your room. Most importantly, you should keep your devices safe because cybercriminals can always use your own camera to spy on you if they want to. Install CyberGhost VPN now on devices you want to keep safe.
We have apps for all kinds of devices, like Android and iOS smartphones. CyberGhost VPN makes sure that no one, not even us, can see what you do online. We have a strict policy that says we won’t track, store, or share any of your information.
No matter where you go on vacation, make sure you always follow good cyber security practices.
