Do you feel like someone is watching you? Whether it’s in a rented Airbnb or at your own house, someone can install a hidden camera without your knowledge. This is a massive privacy breach, so you should know how to check camera in room with phone. This can save you from a big problem later on, especially if the person behind it has an intent to harm your reputation.
Over the past years, camera technology became increasingly advanced. From bulky film cameras, you can now find one as small as those used in endoscopy tools.
Because of their diminutive size, these cameras can now be hidden in almost every spot in a room. Unscrupulous individuals can hide it in plain sight like your bedside alarm clock, picture frame, smoke alarm, unassuming decors, and more.
If you’re worried that this could happen to you, we discussed below methods you can try. These methods will help detect the presence of hidden cameras just by using your smartphone.
How to check camera in room with phone
With the proliferation of hidden cams, you must be equipped with the knowledge to protect yourself from unlawful recording. Here are some methods that can try:
Method 1: Use your phone camera or flashlight
The easiest way to detect a spy cam in a room is to use your smartphone camera. For most hidden cameras, this can be the easiest trick.
First, turn off the lights in the room and make sure that the curtains are drawn, so there’s no other light source. After that, turn on your phone’s flashlight and scan the room with it. Pay close attention to the items where the light will shine.
Most camera lenses will reflect light, no matter how small it is. So if there’s a tiny dot of reflection from an object or surface, you should inspect it closely. Feel free to call the hotel staff if you’re almost sure that a spy cam is present in your room.
Another way to detect a hidden camera is by using your phone’s built-in cam. Just like the method above, turn the lights off in the room and use your phone camera to scan the room. If there’s any bright dot that the camera catches, inspect the spot and keep recording.
Method 2: Check for call interference
Another non-techie way to check for hidden cameras in a room is by listening to call interferences. This is a great hack since many spy cams emit radio signals that can mess with your phone signal.
First, dial anyone and make sure that person answers. Listen closely to the audio quality of your phone then go near a spot you suspect a hidden camera is placed. If there’s a sudden interference like a static sound or anything that disrupts the call, you should inspect the spot even more.
This interference is a sign that an electronic device with wireless connectivity is present nearby.
Still, this method isn’t always conclusive, so it’s still best to pair it with other methods here. You should also inspect the area closely until you find the actual camera.
Method 3: Use the Fing mobile app
Next, you can also download a free mobile app that can detect cameras nearby. These are network-scanning apps that pick up frequencies around you.
One good example here is Fing, a network scanner app used for internet security. Once you run this on your phone, it will show all networks and connected devices. It will help you see potentially malicious connections.
The good thing with Fing is it also indicates the information of the device. This includes the model, vendor or brand, and MAC address. So if you spot details that may point to a potential hidden camera, you should start scanning the room to locate it.
However, this method could fail if the spy cam is recording locally and not connected to a WiFi network. But in many cases, spy cams are often connected online, especially if the individual behind doesn’t have access to the place.
Aside from Fing, there are similar apps you can find on Google PlayStore and Apple App Store. Feel free to try them and even simulate detection by purchasing a spy cam and placing it in your home.
Method 4: Use a radiation-based cam detector
For hidden cameras that aren’t detected by the methods above, you can use a radiation-based cam detector. Sometimes, it’s impossible to find a spy cam if it’s not connected to a WiFi network, thus making the third method inefficient.
In this case, you can use a radiofrequency detection app on your phone. This is downloadable on Play Store and App Store for free.
Basically, these apps pick up the radio frequencies of cameras. You can use an EMF detecting app, which will pick up EMFs in meters as expressed in Hz. If EMF is high on a specific part of the room, you should inspect it for a potential presence of a spy cam.
Make sure that you move your phone slowly around the room and stop to let the app detect frequencies. You should specifically focus on areas with decors like pots, mounted fixtures, shelves, mantle pieces, and small trinkets. Most of the time, spy cams are hidden in a spot with a clear view of the bed.
Final words
Knowing how to check camera in room with phone can save you from a privacy breach. Still, the methods above only work to a certain extent. If you want a foolproof solution, we suggest that you purchase a spy cam jammer or EMF detector.
These devices are designed to detect any electronic devices hidden anywhere in the room. It’s a great investment, especially if you’re always booking a rental place.