Using flashlights and WiFi could help spot hidden cameras in your Airbnb rental property
From the Full coverage of the July 4th Highland Park shooting, carnivorous plant traps prey underground, and more top stories from the last week series
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.
Recently, a Twitter user accused an Airbnb of spying on guests with the use of hidden cameras placed throughout a property. A spokesperson for the company told The Philadelphia Inquirer that Airbnb prohibits hosts from using cameras.
“Our policies strictly prohibit hidden cameras and we take forceful action in the exceptionally rare circumstances where this has been reported, including assisting law enforcement to help them hold criminals accountable,” an Airbnb spokesperson said.
Here’s what to do if you suspect your Airbnb could be housing a hidden camera:
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.
Cover 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.”
Unplug devices that don’t need to be plugged in
Another way to ensure someone is not spying on you through a device you suspect of being a hidden camera is to unplug objects that do not need to be plugged in.
For instance, Michael O’Rourke, chief executive of Advanced Operational Concepts, explained to The Washington Post that unplugging the alarm clock in any hotel room he enters causes the device, if it is a camera, to go offline.
Turn 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.
In this Series
Full coverage of the July 4th Highland Park shooting, carnivorous plant traps prey underground, and more top stories from the last week
Here's a look at the top stories from our sites over the last week.
Weeks after Airbnb said it would permanently ban parties at properties rented through its platform, the company is deploying so-called "anti-party technology" to help enforce the measure.
This practice of adding fees throughout the checkout process is called “drip pricing,” and the travel industry is one of the worst offenders.
Even when they offer similar listings, female Airbnb hosts tend to charge less than their male counterparts, a study has found.
Disgruntled Airbnb guests have taken to Twitter and TikTok to vent about everything from cleaning fees to misleading listings. But they aren’t the only ones with complaints.
While it’s easy to complain about disappointing vacation rentals, it’s harder to know what to do if you don't like your Airbnb. Should you talk to the host? Contact customer service? Request a refund? Well, it depends.
William Shatner, Monica Lewinsky and other prolific Twitter commentators — some household names, others little-known journalists — could soon be losing the blue check marks that helped verify their identity on the social media platform.