Hidden cameras are commonplace in our daily life, the homeowners especially parents use hidden cameras to monitor their babies, babysitters, and others entering their houses.

On the contrary, it’s an emerging trend that more and more people reported that some hotels and vacation rentals are hiding hidden cameras to intrude on their privacy. In this post, we will introduce 5 top methods to detect hidden cameras and protect yourself by learning these useful methods.

What Does a Hidden Camera Look Like?

Hidden cameras are significantly smaller in size than regular security cameras, with lenses that can usually be held between thumb and forefinger. Mini cameras available to buy are rarely bigger than one or two inches in diameter.

There’s a higher chance that the camera will be custom-made rather than bought from retail, because custom-making a device allows it to be easily concealed within an object.

These usually lack proper casing, so the wiring, circuit board, and other components will be visible inside wherever it is installed.

Since it needs to be powered at all times, the most common places a hidden camera is found include power outlets, smoke detectors, and alarms.

Detecting Hidden Cameras: 5 Steps to Finding Spy Cams

When you have suspicions about hidden cameras, it’s easy to quickly get caught up in anxiety and become irrational.

But by remaining calm and following the 5 steps below, you can instill some method in the madness, verifying your suspicions in a logical way. Here’s what to do.

1. Use a flashlight to find hidden cameras

Much like using a phone camera to notice infrared lights, a flashlight can be used instead to check for unusual reflections from objects as a final measure.

Simply turn off all the lights in the room and slowly scan the area with the light for any reflective lenses that might indicate a hidden camera.

2. Scan the environment carefully for spy cams

Checking your surroundings carefully is the first and most basic step in spotting hidden cameras. Take time to visually assess the location.

In many cases, hidden cameras are quite juvenile–poorly assembled, with wires and circuitry visible, or otherwise not hidden well. That’s why simple visual assessments are important.

3. Check for keyholes, holes or unusual objects

Next, take notice of any keyholes, small holes or unusual objects which could conceal a camera lens.

Use fingers to check what eyes alone might not be able to verify, feeling for lenses over or inside of holes along walls, doors, and objects.

4. Detect hidden cameras with a radio frequency detector

A radio frequency (RF) detector is a tool used to locate and identify hidden cameras by detecting the camera’s radio frequency emissions.

Naturally, this isn’t going to be easily accessible for most people, but is important to mention because it can identify even the most well-hidden cameras.

5. Use a mobile phone camera or infrared detector to find hidden cameras

Suitable for finding infrared (IR) cameras, using a phone is among the fastest methods for finding a hidden camera.

Simply point your phone’s camera around the room and look for any bright red dots that appear on the screen. These dots indicate the presence of infrared, which the majority of cameras give off for the purpose of enhancing images in the dark.