Fear for some, for others a real nightmare. The object of discussion in this case is the video cameras, placed inside hotel rooms or vacation rental apartments. Tools that normally should not be present, in order to preserve the privacy of the guests.

The times when we only had to worry about the cleanliness of the room or the sheets seemed more and more distant. According to a 2019 survey by AirBnb, around 11% of travelers have discovered a “spy eye” in properties rented on the platform.

How to know if there are hidden cameras

Despite what some spy movies have gotten us used to, tracking down hidden cameras isn’t nearly impossible. On the contrary, said the Russian security agency Kaspersky, effective control can be carried out even with a simple smartphone. Let’s see how.

Smartphone flashlight

That’s right, according to Kaspersky experts, nothing could be easier than using the torch smartphone. It will suffice to darken the room completely, blocking out the outside light (with curtains, shutters or the like) and turning off the interior lighting.

By framing the various risk points of the room, with the flashlight and the camera active, if the resulting image is a suspicious reflection, it is likely that the “Big Brother“is in action.

Camera versus video cameras

Camera also protagonist of the second point. In this case, the camera should be turned on in night mode, clearly after leaving the room in the dark. When you take a photo, a glow should appear in the photo at the hidden lens. However, Kaspersky experts point out that this trick will only work against devices with a infrared.

Space for apps

A final indication concerns some application, download to your device and use when in doubt. Three free applications are reported as examples: Hidden Camera Detector, Glint Finder and the Italian Fing. These applications should detect unanticipated network communications, those precisely between the cameras and the wireless router to which our phone is connected.

What if you manage to find video cameras?

To know What to do in such a situation, it is very important. It must be assumed that the cameras must be hidden and not reported to the guests, otherwise it will not be possible to take measures to protect us.

The tools available to clients who discover that they have prying eyes on them are different, varying according to the structure. In the event that the discovery would have taken place precisely in a apartment rented with AirBnb it is possible to request a refund or a transfer to another solution.

The question is different whether the cameras are uncovered inside the bedrooms of a hostel, where the possibilities are basically two. The first is to contact the hotel management, in order to obtain clarification or alternatively a refund or a transfer to a “safe” room. The second is to alert the police or the carabinieri, requesting an intervention on the spot.