Tips for using your phone to detect hidden cameras in motel rooms

The phenomenon of some criminals installing hidden cameras in hotel and motel rooms to steal customers' private information has occurred before and still leaves many people apprehensive when renting rooms.

Hotel and guesthouse owners aren't crazy enough to install hidden cameras, but no one can guarantee that no bad guys will be up to something in the place you're visiting.

Tips on using your phone to detect hidden cameras in hotel rooms. (Illustrative image)

Mobile phones can be incredibly useful devices for easily and quickly detecting hidden cameras. You can apply the following four methods to detect hidden cameras using your phone.

Hearing a buzzing sound when making a phone call.

When you enter the room, turn on your phone and make a call to someone. While on the call, walk past any suspicious locations where you might have a camera. If your phone makes a buzzing or crackling sound, there might be a camera, because when a phone is operating and encounters electromagnetic signals like those emitted by a camera, it will produce a buzzing or crackling sound.

Turn on your phone's flashlight to check.

Hidden cameras placed in hotel rooms often have green or red LED lights. When it gets dark, they will emit a flashing signal. Therefore, when checking into a hotel room, turn off all the lights to make the room dark for observation.

Wherever you see something suspicious, investigate. You can close your eyes for a moment, then open them and observe; your eyes are more sensitive to unusual light at this time, making it easier to spot. Alternatively, you can turn on your phone's flashlight and shine a beam of light around the room. If there's another recording device, it will reflect the light from the flashlight.

Open your phone's camera to search.

Another method is to turn on your phone's camera and record a wide-angle view of the room. If there are any hidden cameras in the room, they will reflect off your phone or appear as bright spots.

Check by opening the Wi-Fi network search function on your phone.

Hidden cameras also need a Wi-Fi network to collect data. Therefore, turn on Wi-Fi detection to see which Wi-Fi networks are present in the area. If, in addition to the hotel's Wi-Fi network, you see other Wi-Fi networks with names consisting of meaningless letters and numbers, it's highly likely they are from a hidden camera.

Because scammers usually don't dare give their Wi-Fi networks meaningful names. If you have any doubts, ask the hotel about the Wi-Fi networks in the area.

Several other ways to detect hidden cameras in hotel rooms.

Observe your surroundings with the naked eye.

When entering any room in a guesthouse or hotel, or using a public restroom, you need to look carefully and cautiously around to detect any surveillance cameras.

Pay particular attention to certain locations such as: televisions, remote controls, power outlets, under tables or chairs, doorways, decorative items like wall clocks, table lamps, vases, stuffed animals, or even on smoke detectors and air purifiers…

Turn off all the lights in the room.

Cameras often flash red or green lights, or emit a dim LED light to improve nighttime or low-light recording. You can use this mechanism to detect hidden cameras by closing all the curtains and turning off all the lights in the room. If you notice any unusual lighting, investigate thoroughly to ensure your privacy and safety.

Check the mirrors in the room.

Miniature hidden cameras can also be cleverly concealed behind mirrors in motel rooms, hotels, and public restrooms. However, don't worry too much; calmly follow these instructions to check for hidden cameras.

Place your finger on the mirror and observe the distance between your finger and the mirror. If there is a gap between your finger and the reflection, you can rest assured that it is a real mirror. However, if you find that there is no gap between your finger and the reflection, then this is a two-way mirror, possibly with a hidden camera installed behind it.

Use specialized camera detection equipment.

In addition to the methods for detecting hidden cameras mentioned above, investing in an infrared detector or hidden camera tracker is necessary if you frequently travel or go on business trips and do not want your private images to be recorded by criminals.

These devices are typically small and pocket-sized, easy to use by simply turning them on and carrying them around the room to check. If a hidden camera is detected, the device will sound an alarm and flash a light to notify you.

The article above has introduced you to some useful ways to easily find hidden cameras in hotels and guesthouses. Hopefully, these methods will help you easily check your privacy and detect hidden cameras when renting rooms during your travels or business trips.

Ngoc Linh

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