How to use your phone to find hidden cameras

The article explains how travellers can use a phone to check accommodation for hidden cameras, which may be disguised as everyday objects. Indoor recording devices are banned in Airbnb properties, but concerns persist: cameras can be hard to spot, even though complaints are relatively uncommon.

It recommends sweeping a darkened room with a flashlight to catch lens reflections or indicator lights, and checking mirrors and sensitive areas such as bedrooms and showers. A phone camera may reveal infrared lights from night-vision cameras; Wi-Fi or Bluetooth scans may also flag unfamiliar devices. These checks have limits: benign appliances can appear on scans, and cameras recording to memory cards may not be detected.