2023-07-05 20:04:00
Far be it from me to freak you out (I am personally a big soft ball, believe me that I would have done well without this subject which will make me paranoid for the next 17 years), but it is my duty to remind you that sometimes, some Airbnb owners abuse their rights and install cameras in their homes in order to monitor you, even to subdue you (if I become paranoid, there is no reason for me to be the only one). Here are some tips for easily spotting prohibited cameras in your rental, before putting a legislative uppercut on your rental company and recovering your money.
Be aware that Airbnb owners have the right to install a camera
Don’t panic if a camera films the entrance to the accommodation: Airbnb allows owners to use surveillance devices, but only under certain conditions. Only the public spaces (therefore not the bedroom, nor the bathroom, the toilets or the living room if there is a sofa bed) have the right to be filmed. In addition, these devices must be visible and, above all, travelers must be informed of their presence. Otherwise, you can sue for invasion of privacy (kinda stylish, but not cool to live with).
Remove the webcams present
It’s stupid, but a fixed computer or any other electronic camera device, left in the apartment and which is not yours, can very well be used to film you without your knowledge. When in doubt, we throw it all away (not in the dumpster, but we put tape on it, or we put everything in the closet, you understood me).
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Think about the optimal places to install a camera
Before embarking on an investigation worthy of Sherlock Holmes (or Hercule Poirot depending on preference), take a look with your simple little eyes. It’s stupid, but some owners may be stupid, to the point of having cameras that are not very well hidden. So take a tour of the strategic rooms, thinking about the angles of view that could be interesting for voyeurs, like in a piece of furniture directly opposite the bed or in a switch directed towards the shower, for example.
Also look in a little more unusual places
Obviously, we look at clocks and alarm clocks, but we also think of watching under the sink and in the shower, switches in general, trinkets, stuffed animals, power strips and electrical outlets, smoke detectors, desks, shelves, books, boxes of CDs, DVDs and video games, alarm systems, holes in the wall, photos and frames, as well as USB-hubs and chargers. It’s psycho, but I swear we are sometimes surprised by current technology.
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Turn off all lights and use your phone flash to spot cameras not visible to the naked eye
If you have any lingering doubts about the presence of a camera, go into complete darkness and bring a flashlight or your phone’s flash. Then dig in the same places listed above. Thanks to the cameras reflective lens, you should be able to spot a camera lens by your light flash.
Look for weird spots of light with your camera
Non-networked cameras usually have infrared diodes that can help locate them. To do this, close all the shutters, turn off the light and use your phone’s camera. Then, direct it to suspicious places (including all those mentioned above). As soon as a white to purple point of light appears on your screen, look for its origin because chances are that it is a nice little camera. Be careful, not all cameras can detect infrared light, so to find out if this is the case with yours, do a test beforehand with a remote control.
Take a tour of the equipment connected to the network
As for the cameras connected to the network, therefore operating by wifi, there is a simple technique to locate their trace. Disconnect all your devices (except your phone, of course) from the network and launch an app like caught to list all electronic devices connected to the local wifi. All you have to do is identify which are normal equipment in the home (like the TV or speakers) and which are suspicious (for example if they sing It’s weird of Zaho). Sometimes, caught even note directly which devices are cameras, which is, I believe, very practical.
To see which camera is filming what, there is also a hacker technique which consists of doing an internet search linking an IP address to an open port detected by the application, but as I understood one out of three words in this sentence, I I’m not going to venture here to try to explain it to you. Be aware, however, that apps like caught cannot give you camera locations or detect off-net cameras.
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Do the nail test on the mirrors
Well, here we are really starting to fall into paranoia, but if you want to go to the end of your investigation at all costs, you can always check that the mirrors in your home do not contain a potential camera because they are without train. To find out, put your finger directly on the glass. If there is a space between your nail and its reflection, you are dealing with a normal mirror. If your nail touches that of your reflection, I’m not going to lie to you, it stinks a little ass. Obviously, this science is not exact and there may be a camera behind your mirror, even if you have a gap between your fingernails, and vice versa. But if in doubt, and just for fun, you can always do this test.
Use a radio frequency detector
Ok, it costs money, but if this video surveillance camera story really stresses you out, it will allow you to sleep soundly (after I say that for you, but a pillow is more comfortable, huh…).
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