How to spot hidden cameras in your Oyo, Airbnb, or any hotel room

Hidden cameras are becoming more problematic with cheap options disguised as everyday objects. While such cameras can be used for legitimate purposes too, like for monitoring your house for burglary when you’re on vacation or something of that sort, they are often misused. Hotel rooms are often hiding such tiny hidden cameras that are able to live-stream footage, even in the dark.

The problem is common in many areas. People booking rooms with services like Oyo and Airbnb have found hidden cameras in their rooms. But if you’re going to stay at a shady hotel room in a pinch, here is a quick and easy way to spot a hidden camera. All you need is a Smartphone.

Step 1

Turn off all sources of lights. This includes bulbs, tube lights, decorative lighting, and even the television and other screens. Switch off these appliances. Make sure it’s as dark as possible. Pitch black will be ideal.

Step 2

Open up your smartphone camera and point it at suspicious areas like clocks, shelves, weirdly placed decorative items and any other place you could think of where such cameras could be hidden.

Step 3

Look for small white spots emitting from anywhere. Move the camera around and be as thorough as possible. Your eyes won’t be able to see these spots but the smartphone camera will be able to detect it quite easily. Any such spots you find could be a hidden camera. Wherever you see these spots, investigate thoroughly.

How does this work?

Hidden cameras are often laced with infrared (IR) blasters that help them see in the dark. IR light cannot be detected by the human eye, which is why these cameras are impossible to spot in the dark with the naked eye. However, cameras can detect light from the infrared spectrum and hence are able to spot these devices easily.

Remember, the presence of such devices in your rooms is evidence to incriminate your hotel. Take videos of such devices as proof and report the matter to the police immediately.