In a hotel room, a television can be considered an essential item, usually arranged in the center of the room, opposite the bed. This is an easy location for hidden cameras to be installed in the room. From the direction of the TV, the camera can easily record images of all corners of the room. This helps bad guys collect information about customers’ activities and privacy.
In addition, installing a hidden recording device at the TV location also makes the room tenant subjective. Camera devices are increasingly small in size, wireless, and can easily transmit images to far-away locations. That makes hiding the camera even easier and harder to detect.
Both the TV and the set-top box have an infrared source used to connect the remote control. Bad guys take advantage of this to place the camera right where the TV is located because the camera also has an infrared source, easily confusing for tenants when checking the room.
This is the reason why you should unplug the TV as soon as you check into a motel or hotel.
After unplugging the TV, you can close the room’s curtains, turn off all the lights, and turn on your phone’s camera, turning on video recording mode. Use your phone camera to film all corners of the room. Because the camera has its power supply, not related to the TV, when the TV is unplugged, the camera still operates normally. If unusual light spots appear on your phone screen, you can check more closely for the sources of light.
Additionally, you can use your phone’s flash to illuminate all corners of the room. Hidden cameras have high light sensitivity so they can reflect the light of the flash.
When observing the room with the naked eye, if you see blue or red light dots anywhere, you need to check that location more closely.
Besides the TV, you need to carefully check the items in the room, such as pictures hanging around the bed, flower vases, potted plants, night lights, bathroom equipment… These are also very easy places to hide.