Ex-hacker reveals how cameras could be hidden in Airbnbs and hotels
The IndependentStay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “If you hit a camera lens, it’s going to give a blue reflection.” He noted that one way to test the technique is by shining a light at a cellphone camera and see what it looks like “when placed under a flashlight.” Hutchins then took his flashlight, shined it on a digital clock, and discovered that there was a camera in there. “If we shine a light on it, you can see that little pinhole in the middle with the blue reflection, that is the camera lens.” He explained how night vision cameras can also be used and hidden within devices, like the fire alarm. “Night vision cameras use infrared LEDs to see and, if we turn off the lights and use the front-facing phone camera, we can actually see these LEDs,” he said. Once he covered the “main LED,” which showed the actual time, he could see the light from the camera “a lot better.” Hutchins expressed how he wouldn’t “rely on this method” for spotting bathroom cameras because “people don’t usually shower in the dark.” “So, if they’re placing cameras in the bathroom, then they’re probably not going to bother with night vision,” he said.