Hidden cameras are smaller, cheaper, and easier to conceal than ever before. For the vast majority of people staying in an Airbnb, renting a property, or returning home after a period away, there will be nothing to find. Cases of hidden cameras in private spaces are rare, but they do happen, and knowing how to do a basic check means you are not relying on luck if something feels off.
Where are hidden cameras most commonly placed?
Cameras are usually placed where they will capture the most content without being noticed. In living spaces that means smoke detectors, clocks, picture frames, and shelf ornaments. In bedrooms and bathrooms, that could be in items positioned at height or pointing toward areas of privacy, including air fresheners, showerheads, towel hooks, and charging adapters.
In rented properties and Airbnbs, any item the host has left that seems slightly out of place is worth a second look. A clock facing the bed, a phone charger with no corresponding device, a smoke detector in a room that already has one fitted to the ceiling. These are the kinds of small details that are easy to miss, but could be worth your attention.
Physical inspection: what to look for
Start with the lighting. Turn off all the lights in the room and look for any small LED indicators or pinhole lenses catching light from outside. A pinhole camera lens is small but will reflect light distinctively if you shine a torch across the room at eye level and scan slowly. Take your time with this. Rushing the sweep is how things get missed.
Look for anything that has a small hole facing toward the room. The lens aperture on a hidden camera is typically between one and three millimetres. Check electrical sockets, plug adapters, books, plant pots, clocks, and any decorative objects. Pay attention to items that are plugged in but have no obvious function, since most covert cameras require power.
Check for anything that looks newly installed or inconsistent with the rest of the decor.
Fresh adhesive marks, unusual fixings, or items that seem positioned rather than placed casually all warrant closer inspection. In a rented property or Airbnb, that also means checking behind mirrors, inside functional items like clocks and smoke detectors, and around ventilation grilles where a small camera can sit completely hidden from casual view.
Using your phone to detect infrared light
Many hidden cameras use infrared LEDs for night vision. The human eye can’t see infrared light, but most smartphone cameras can. Open your phone camera and point it at a TV remote control, press a button, and you should see a purple or white light through the screen. That confirms your camera picks up IR. Note that some newer iPhone models filter IR on the rear camera but not the front, so if the test doesn’t work, try switching cameras.
With the room lights off, slowly pan your phone camera around the room. Any active IR source will appear as a bright purple or white glow on your screen. This method will not catch every camera, since some use IR cut filters during daylight hours, but it is a quick and effective check for anything actively recording in low light.
This is one of the most accessible hidden camera detection methods available without specialist equipment, and it takes less than five minutes to do properly.
Network scanning: finding cameras on your Wi-Fi
Many modern spy cameras transmit footage over Wi-Fi rather than storing it locally. If you are connected to the property’s network, a network scanning app can show you every device currently connected to that router. Any unfamiliar device, particularly one listed as a camera, network video recorder, or unidentified manufacturer, is worth investigating further.
Connect to the property Wi-Fi, run a scan, and look for anything unexpected. This method is particularly relevant for detecting hidden cameras in an Airbnb or hotel room, since transmitting cameras need to be on the network to send footage anywhere.
If you find a device you cannot account for, do not disconnect it or interfere with it. Take a screenshot, note the MAC address and device name, and seek professional advice before taking further action.
When to call a professional TSCM sweep
Physical inspection and phone-based checks are useful first steps, but they have limits.
A professional Technical Surveillance Countermeasures sweep uses radio frequency detection equipment, non-linear junction detectors, and lens detection technology that can locate devices that basic inspection will miss entirely. Cameras that are switched off, shielded, or using frequencies outside the standard Wi-Fi range will not show up on a network scan. If you have found something suspicious and want it properly assessed, or if you have genuine reason to believe a hidden camera in a rented property or your home has been installed without consent, a professional sweep is the appropriate response.Â
B25 provides residential and commercial TSCM sweeps across the UK. Assessments are discreet, thorough, and carried out by investigators from military, intelligence, and policing backgrounds. If something does not feel right, it is worth having it confirmed properly.
Found something suspicious? Book a professional sweep with B25. Fast, discreet, and nationwide. Call us on 0800 593 2525 or use our online form to get the answers you need.