Here’s how to spot hidden cameras in your Airbnb: from pointing a flashlight at mirrors to checking smoke detectors

In recent years, shocking stories have emerged of unsuspecting guests being spied on by their Airbnb owners.

Last year, 22-year-old Katelyn Boss discovered a hidden camera in a light fixture in a Miami rental home — and her story went viral.

And the problem seems to be becoming more common. An analysis of AirBnB flats found that one in 132 flats has hidden cameras.

DailyMail.com spoke to two privacy experts about how to tell if there might be a hidden camera in your next Airbnb.

They include using apps to search for Wi-Fi connected gadgets and using your phone’s infrared detector to spot hidden devices.

Shine a flashlight to find reflections from camera lenses

Turning off all lights and using a flashlight can help spot telltale reflections from camera lenses, says Chris Hauk, consumer privacy champion at Pixel Privacy.

Hauk said that while the room is dark, you can also look for green or red LED lights — another telltale sign of a hidden camera.

Hauk told DailyMail.com: ‘One way is to turn off all the lights in the room and use a flashlight to explore the area, looking for any reflections from camera lenses.’

Camera lenses will appear as blue flashes in the dark, Hauk said.

Use apps to eradicate hidden devices

Several specialty apps, such as Fing, can help track cameras connected to Wi-Fi, says Brian Higgins, a security specialist at Comparitech.

Apps like Fing scan the Wi-Fi network and reveal details of all connected devices – which can be a good first step towards finding hidden cameras.

(It’s worth noting, though, that this won’t find cameras with a wired connection or cameras that record to an internal chip).

Higgins said, “If you want to get technical, you can download a Wi-Fi sniffer to see if someone else is taking data from your location.”

‘Look out for strange Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth signals (use your phone to connect to nearby devices): these could be signs of recording equipment.

Check for two-way mirrors

A classic place to hide cameras is behind mirrors — and it’s also worth looking into two-way mirrors, Hauk said.

Hauk said, “Look behind hanging mirrors for cameras.

‘If there is a mirror screwed to the wall, turn off the lights, hold a flashlight up to the mirror and scan the surface with it. If you only see the reflection of your flashlight, the mirror is probably a traditional one-way mirror.

“However, if you can see into an area behind the mirror, it is likely a two-way mirror, allowing hidden cameras to capture the area.”

Use your phone’s camera to detect infrared sensors

Cameras usually use infrared light to capture images in dark rooms – and while you can’t see infrared, your phone’s camera probably can.

Depending on your camera model, it may be the front or rear camera that can detect infrared.

Hauk said, “To determine if it has that ability, open the camera app and point a remote at it (like the one that controls the television that’s probably in the Airbnb rental), then press some buttons on the remote control.

‘If you see a flash of purple or white light, the camera can detect infrared. You then have to turn off all the lights in the room and scan the room with the camera app for similar flashes that could come from a hidden camera.’

Check potted plants and smoke detectors

Small household items such as potted plants and smoke detectors are classic places where hidden cameras lurk, warned Brian Higgins, security specialist at Comparitech.

In August 2022, a Texas couple claimed they found hidden camera lenses in smoke detectors in a property they were using.

Higgins says, ‘Also check for nanny-cam candidates such as stuffed animals, smoke detectors and houseplants for hidden cameras.

Wear webcam covers for PCs and TVs

Higgins said that devices such as televisions sometimes (quite innocently) have built-in cameras to enable video calls.

A webcam cover can ensure that these devices are not used for nefarious purposes.

Higgins said: ‘If you’re a regular AirBnb customer, it’s probably good to take a supply of webcam covers and stick them on anything obvious like laptops, televisions etc.’