If you are an avid traveller then you might have come across some of the horror stories about people spotting hidden cameras in their hotel rooms.
Travelling is plenty of fun but nothing will ruin the mood like spotting a camera disguised as a regular household object in your hotel or Airbnb.
Or even worse, feeling like you are being watched but not being able to find the camera anywhere in your room.
Luckily, a TikTok user who describes himself as an ‘ex-hacker’ has shared his tips for spotting hidden cameras in hotel and Airbnb rooms.
Marcus Hutchins, who teaches cybersecurity under the handle @malwaretech on the short video sharing app recommends shining a torch around the room when you arrive to look for any potential recording devices.
In a video clip that has now been viewed more than 13 million times, Hutchins said the first thing you want to look for are devices that are conveniently placed where a ‘creeper’ would want to look.
“The first thing you are going to want to look for is devices that are conveniently placed where a creeper would want to look.
“Take this fire alarm, for instance. It is placed right above the bed.
“One way to see if the device is a camera is to shine a bright light at it,” he explained in the video.
“If you hit a camera lens, it’s going to get a blue-ish reflection,” he said.
He claimed that his technique would also work on two-way mirrors.
Marcus also made the disturbing revelation that some USB chargers can have tiny pinhole cameras concealed inside which, yet again, you can find if you shine a light on them.
‘These cameras are really small as you can see here, so they can be hidden in anything, even a hole in the wall,’ he went on.
‘You’re going to want to check any suspicious devices or holes that are facing the shower, dressing area or the bed.’
He also warned how night vision cameras use infrared LEDs to see; you can spot these by turning off the light and using the front-facing camera on your phone to see them.
@malwaretechReply to @safarijackza How to find hidden cameras in AirBnBs ##safety ##travel♬ original sound – Marcus Hutchins
‘The front-facing camera is the only one that tends to work as the back-facing one has an IR filter,’ Marcus explained.
Viewers were shocked to see how easy it is to hide cameras, with one writing, “Another reason to never leave my house, haha.”
Another user wanted to know the reason behind all of it, asking, “Can someone explain to me what the purpose is? Do they just want to watch the tenants living their lives? Sleeping? Eating? Changing? What’s the point!”
“That’s it I’m showering in clothes,” a third user joked.
