Experts tested five methods to find hidden cameras in a room, but only one was deemed effective.
Whether or not there are hidden cameras in rooms and how to find them is a question many renters wonder about. Instead of having to retrieve the camera footage to view what has been recorded, nowadays intruders can view it directly on their personal phones, says Pieter Tjia, CEP of OMG Solutions, a technology services company based in Singapore.
One team of experts attempted to place 27 hidden cameras in a house, while another team used commonly recommended equipment to locate them. Five solutions were employed in the tracking process.
Lens detectors, one of the tools for detecting hidden cameras that has been widely praised online, were only able to locate 2 out of 27 cameras using CNBC's findings. (Image: CNBC)
Method 1: Using the naked eye
First, experts used their eyes to search for hidden cameras in the most vulnerable locations, such as table alarm clocks, electrical outlets, and light fixtures. Victor Loh, an expert, went from room to room observing and initially saw nothing unusual. After 20 minutes of searching, he found a camera hidden inside a clock, because the clock was showing the wrong time.
"I found one, but it was very well disguised," Loh said.
Search cost: 0 USD. Number of cameras found: 1.
Method 2: Using a mobile phone
Victor Loh downloaded an app called Fing that scans Wi-Fi networks to find cameras. He also used his phone's flashlight to shine on suspicious spots to find camera lenses, a method often suggested online.
The app shows 22 devices connected to the home's Wi-Fi, but none of them are hidden cameras.
Tjia, a participant in the project, explained that when installing hidden cameras in the house, the person in charge set up a second Wi-Fi network and connected these hidden cameras to that network, bypassing the house's existing Wi-Fi network and providing access to guests. Tjia also pointed out that the Fing app could only report the presence of cameras in the house but could not display their location.
After using his phone's flashlight, Victor found three more cameras: inside the Wi-Fi module, attached to the eyes of the teddy bear.
Cost: $25 USD for one year of using the Fing app. Number of devices found: 3.
Method 3: Using a radio frequency detector
The frequency detector will beep when near a camera, but this method is only effective when the camera is connected to Wi-Fi. "The detector can't find it if the camera uses a memory card to store data instead of a Wi-Fi connection," Tjia said. Furthermore, the detector has given false alarms a few times. "It even beeps in areas without cameras," Tjia added. Its piercing beep also distracted Victor, preventing him from finding any cameras.
Fee: 100-200 USD. Number of devices found: 0
Method 4: Using a lens detector
The device emits infrared light, which reflects off the camera lens and appears as a red dot. This tool can only locate cameras if they are active. This type of device is highly regarded, but Victor only found two hidden cameras using this method. One camera was hidden in an aromatherapy diffuser in the room, and another in a Wi-Fi mesh system, a system consisting of a main router directly connected to modems and satellite modules—Wi-Fi hotspots—placed around the house to optimize connectivity over a wide area.
Cost: $50. Number of cameras found: 2
Method 5: Using a modern lens detector
For the final test, Victor used a more sophisticated lens detector. It also highlighted the light reflected from the hidden camera lens. However, this device operated remotely, allowing Victor to see the camera from across the room. Tjia said it could also work in brightly lit or dimly lit rooms.
"Wow," Victor exclaimed when he found the hidden cameras in a tissue box, a leather bag, and another among stacks of documents under the desk. Victor found 11 cameras using this device, more than all the methods he had used above combined.
Cost: $400. Number of devices found: 11
With these five tests, Victor found a total of 17 out of 27 hidden cameras, a result that isn't bad but isn't highly regarded by many, especially considering the effort and time involved in the search.
According to experts, no one wants to be exhausted from exploring while traveling and then have to spend another hour searching for hidden cameras.
According to data company Sprout Social, social media posts about hidden cameras have increased by nearly 400% in the past two years. "But in this cat-and-mouse game, hidden cameras have the upper hand," Tjia said. He also acknowledged that while hidden camera detection devices are becoming more sophisticated, the spy cameras themselves are also becoming more refined.
( By Anh Minh , according to CNBC )
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