How to spot hidden cameras in Airbnb or hotel room

We have all been there. Sitting in a hotel room, wondering if there might be a small camera lurking inside a wardrobe, by an airconditioning unit or perhaps integrated into the television.

But a British ‘ex-hacker’ has revealed on Tik Tok exactly what to look for when trying to spot a hidden camera during your next hotel stay.

In a video posted by Marcus Hutchins, recommends using the light from a torch to explore around your hotel room for any potential recording devices.

Mr Hutchins, who teaches cybersecurity, said cameras will typically be conveniently placed where a “creeper” would want to look.

“Take this fire alarm for instance, it is placed right above the bed,’ he demonstrated.

“Now one way to see if the device is a camera is to shine a bright light at it. If you hit a camera lens it’s going to get a blue-ish reflection.

“Now you can test this by shining a light at your phone and seeing how the camera looks when placed under a flashlight.”

Mr Hutchins moved his torch to a bedside digital alarm clock, which he shoes contains a small camera.

The chilling video using a torch, which has been viewed more than 5.5 million times, can also be used to identify a two-way mirror. He explained that small USB charging ports can also be a hiding spot for cameras which are normally very small and difficult to identify.

“These cameras are really small as you can see here, so they can be hidden in anything, even a hole in the wall,” he explained.

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“You’re going to want to check any suspicious devices or holes that are facing the shower, dressing area or the bed.”

Mr Hutchins explained that the demonstrated he posted on Tik Tok wasn’t an actual hotel room or Airbnb, but rather a mock up “set-up to demonstrate how to find cameras.”

The video received mixed comments, with some saying they have a "new reason not to leave home”, while others joked they will now be “showering” in their clothes.

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