Spotlight
Using flashlights and WiFi could help spot hidden cameras in your Airbnb rental property
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- Evan Santiago, The Charlotte Observer
- Updated
- 0
As security technology continues to become more advanced, it is no longer considered usual to believe that the oddly shaped or placed objects around an Airbnb could be cover for hidden cameras.
Although it’s rare that a hidden camera is discovered in an Airbnb by a guest, it’s not entirely impossible, according to the widely-used accommodations rental company.
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Shine a flashlight at oddly placed objects
In a TikTok video that’s been viewed more than 33.6 million times, Marcus Hutchins, an ex-hacker and cybersecurity expert, showed his followers how to discover hidden cameras.
“One way to see if a device is a camera is to shine a bright light at it. If you hit a camera lens, it’s going to give a bluish reflection,” Hutchins explains.
Some objects you may want to check include smoke detectors, outlets, and clocks.
Image by Josch13 from PixabayCover up items that seem out of place
If you feel as though an item is not where it’s supposed to be, you can ease your worries by covering the item up with a towel or temporarily placing it in a drawer or closet, a security expert Jack Plaxe told HuffPost.
“If you have suspicions about something in the room, like, for example, an alarm clock, it’s very simple to take a piece of clothing out of your suitcase and drape it over the alarm clock,” Plaxe said. “If there’s a lens there, it’s not going to capture any images of you with your T-shirt sitting over it.”
Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from PixabayTurn off the Airbnb’s WiFi
Most cameras that have a streaming capability require WiFi to function. Sometimes, you can even see the hidden device listed as a WiFi source when searching for available networks on a mobile device.
You can disrupt a potential spy by unplugging the home’s router. If you get a message from your host asking why the WiFi signal has been disrupted, there’s a possibility that the host has been monitoring a device within the home that is connected to the internet, Business Insider reports.
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