(NEXSTAR) — Are you being spied on in your Airbnb or Vrbo rental?
This is a common concern in the short-term rental economy.
Last week, a civil lawsuit was filed in Kendall County, Texas after a couple claimed the owners registered them during “intimate and private moments” while renting their property in August 2020. One of the owners was arrested and officials say their investigation uncovered other illegally recorded explicit images of different guests.
Despite how sneaky some hidden camera tricks are, there are plenty of ways to detect them.
How to check hidden cameras
Expert Marcus Hutchins, whose TikTok account gives advice on cybersecurity @malwaretech has over 425,000 subscribers, says a quick way to find a hidden camera is to shine a light inside all the objects with holes. For example, hold your phone’s flashlight over a smoke detector or air conditioning vent – all the lenses inside will give off a bluish glow. Hutchins explains that hidden cameras can be hidden in shower heads and even power outlets.
Shining lights on mirrors or other mirrored objects will also reveal camera lenses hidden behind glass, Hutchins says.
Meanwhile, Michael O’Rourke, managing director of global security consultancy Advanced Operational Concepts, previously shared some of his tips for the washington post.
O’Rourke says he unplugs next to the clocks/alarm clocks and puts them in a drawer. Then he says he covers the peepholes in the doors and covers the cracks under the doors just in case and the camera lenses can see through from the outside.
Another tactic suggested by some experts is to completely disconnect your rental’s wifi, although this may go against your host’s rules, in addition to possibly causing other problems for connected (non-invasive) devices.
The smartphone app End is also known for his ability to find hidden cameras on his own.
Short-term camera rental policies
Only cameras and recording devices clearly visible in common areas and disclosed before guest reservations are allowed, according to the Airbnb Camera Policies. The company also explicitly states that “common areas” do not not include sleeping areas or bathrooms — not even living rooms with sofa beds.
Vrbo Privacy Policy explains that surveillance devices are anything that captures photos and videos, but also geolocation and personally identifiable information. Surveillance of Internet data by hosts is also considered surveillance. Devices are not permitted inside a property, although guests are permitted to use devices for security outside the property. All recording devices must be disclosed to guests in advance.
If you believe you have been or are being monitored without your consent, you should contact the company you rented from.
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