How to Find a Spy Camera in Your Airbnb

AUG 21

How to Find a Spy Camera in Your Airbnb

Airbnb has changed how American’s travel. Rather than staying in hotels and resorts, millions of travelers every year choose to stay in a rental property. Staying in an accommodation like this is often an exciting experience, as each home or rental is unique and offers a different experience.

That experience, however, can sometimes be not what you expected.

With the rise in technology and availability of spy cameras and nanny cams, there has been an unfortunate rise in spying on unsuspecting visitors as they visit these rental properties.

Due to this rise in technology, many people are now looking for ways to check for a hidden camera in their Airbnb or rental house, so that their vacation isn’t ruined by a creepy host or landlord.

Because rental properties like those offered on Airbnb and similar sites like VRBO are private properties, they do not have the same inspections and protections that are common in the rest of the hospitality industry, namely in hotels and motels.

Read Reviews of the Rental Property

Before you even book an Airbnb, you can quickly look through the rental property reviews. This will be the first step in avoiding places where previous guests may have found something out of the ordinary. While Airbnb should suspend any listing where a hidden camera is found, a quick review of the property reviews is always a great place to start.

Visual Checks of the Rooms

One of the first ways to check for hidden cameras and spy cameras when you get to the property is the easiest - simply looking for something that looks out of place. For example, objects like smoke detectors and alarm clocks are common places for cameras to be hidden inside. For long term use, many hidden cameras are plugged into AC power, so look for things that are plugged into power, or hidden in spots near an outlet.

Technology can also help locate a hidden camera, by using dedicated bug and camera detection devices. These hidden camera detectors use a special viewfinder and red LED light that reflect off of any camera lens, which then reflects back a bright dot due to the curvature of the camera lens.

You can also turn off all the lights in a dark room, and use your camera’s built in flashlight to look for a camera lens, which will reflect in the same way as it would with a hidden camera detector.

WiFi Network Scans

Another method to detect hidden cameras is by using software to scan the property’s WiFi network. This may alert you to devices that are also connected and streaming video from a spy camera or hidden camera.

This may not always be effective however, as many Airbnb properties may have a separate guest network, so a hidden camera may not even be connected to the same network.

In addition, there are many non-WiFi hidden cameras that simply record to a memory card, so they wouldn’t show up on a network scan at all.

Enjoy Your Stay

While there have been many recent stories of guests finding hidden cameras or spy cameras in their rental properties, the overall occurrence is still very low. If you’re concerned about a possible hidden camera, look in places like the bedroom or bathroom for objects that look out of place. A basic check will likely help locate any hidden camera.

If you do find a camera hidden in your Airbnb, immediately report it to the police, as well as the booking company, so they can ensure the property owner will no longer be able to list their property.

Other than that - chances are you’re much more likely to encounter bed bugs than surveillance bugs - so don’t worry too much - and try and enjoy your vacation.