You are not completely confident when entering an Airbnb, since you have read the many stories lying around on the web and telling how a host spied on his tenants via hidden cameras? This camera hunter’s guide is for you!
Founded in 2008 on a genius idea by three Americans, Airbnb quickly carved out a place for itself in the tourism landscape, to the point of sometimes worrying the hotel sector and pushing certain large cities to put limits on it because of rental drifts. If Airbnb is widely acclaimed today, and stands out as a common solution when traveling, it is not without risk. With such a concept, the firm simply cannot verify every single square centimeter of the accommodation provided, and, despite the guarantees put in place by the firm, certain unscrupulous hosts sometimes exceed the limits. Many stories about how some users discovered hidden cameras in their Airbnb were thus relayed on the web. Obviously, if these stories have only fueled paranoia, let us not forget that they do not record a generality, but many exceptional situations. If in spite of everything you have suspicions towards a host, an object enthroned in your room, a little check can be reassured for good and enjoy the stay. That’s good, we explain to you how to flush out the hidden cameras (or not) in your Airbnb !
Does a host have the right to install a camera in an Airbnb?
First of all, before insurging yourself before the presence of a camera in an Airbnb rental, know that it is indeed possible for the host to install it, under certain conditions. The hosts have an obligation to report the presence of a video surveillance system in their accommodation, and these can in no case be installed in bedrooms or bathrooms. If you ever find a camera that has never been mentioned either by the host or on the ad, contact immediately Airbnb explaining the situation.
Where would the cameras be placed?
Since the host could possibly have a camera in a living room or in the entrance if he mentions it explicitly in his ad, the places to scrutinize sparingly are the bedroom and the bathroom. Try to put yourself in the place of the criminal, and imagine which places would be preferable to have the best possible view on a bed, for example. A chest of drawers placed in front of the bed on which a strange teddy bear rests? An abnormally large switch on the wall? A kind of hole pronounced in a corner or on a clock radio placed on the bedside table? Start by checking these places, being careful not to exclude small objects (cameras can be tiny these days). On the bathroom side, check the switches instead, under the sink, or even above the shower. Without even carrying out a thorough search, if nothing seems particularly suspicious to you, this is already a good sign.
Credits: @ manbob86 via Pixabay
The torch technique
Once you have located these potentially suspicious objects, there is a very simple technique for quickly checking whether they contain cameras. To do this, put yourself in total darkness, then turn on the flashlight on your smartphone (or a conventional flashlight). Then scan the room with this light, with particular emphasis on the places suitable for the proper placement of a camera. Because of its optical properties, the lens of a camera is extremely reflective, and should flicker more than a simple glass in the passage of light like that of a flashlight. Reflections should appear on surfaces bright but if you see a sparkling glow emanating from an object which should not specially project from it, check this object in more detail.
WiFi technology
Certain stories which turn on the web about these cameras hidden in an Airbnb evoke the possibility of detecting a camera via the WiFi network. Most surveillance cameras do indeed work over a WiFi connection, and most are even visible when looking for devices to connect to over WiFi. Don’t hesitate to take a look at your settings to see if a suspicious device with an evocative name is not there. Sometimes these cameras are not visible directly as a WiFi device, but you can always take a look at the applications (Network Scanner, Fing, iNet, etc.) that allow you to find out the list of devices connected to a WiFi network. in particular. If you see that a camera is connected to the same WiFi network that the host provided you, there is reason to worry.
In case of big doubt, you can completely deactivate the internet box of the host, which will necessarily have the effect of deactivating any cameras possibly hidden in the accommodation. Hoping that your 4G connection will shock …
Crédits : @StockSnap via Pixabay
Infrared rays betray cameras
Another trick is to quickly detect if a camera is possibly filming you. Many cameras designed to operate in the dark (this is the case for most “general public” surveillance cameras) indeed emit infrared rays during their operation. If these rays are not visible to the naked eye, you can completely use your smartphone to identify them.
If your smartphone is able to detect these rays (to find out, use a TV remote control while filming yourself, logically a little flicker should appear on the video), do not hesitate to film the accommodation with the light off. If you detect this very significant flicker in the final video, a camera is certainly filming you.
Credits: Bernard Hermant via Unsplash
Logically, these simple methods should allow you to quickly and simply check if a camera is prowling around, if in doubt. However, do not forget that this type of misadventure remains exceptional, and that it is advisable not to sink into paranoia. If you ever come across a hidden camera in your Airbnb, contact their customer service immediately to obtain a refund and to have a chance that the accommodation will be quickly removed from the platform. You would also be entitled to notify the police, and to write a statement for ” invasion of privacy “.
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