Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Taking pictures in secret can have detrimental effects. The victim's personal life can spread and become public food, and can be misused by malicious parties.
In some cases, hidden camera images are often found in accommodation, toilets and other places.
Or, it could be like what happened in the Burning Sun Scandal involving famous K-Pop stars. Where the perpetrators took photos of the victim, some openly with a cell phone, some secretly. Which was then spread illegally.
Then, how to detect hidden cameras or spycam when in public places such as hotels or toilets?
Usually, hidden cameras can take the form of alarm clocks, air fresheners, water bottles, toothbrush holders, household items, and home decorations. And, all of these “stuff” are easy to find on e-commerce.
So sophisticated, CEO of technology services company OMG Solutions, Pieter Tjia, said, these “items” can even enable their owners to do live streaming via cellphone. Then, the perpetrators can even sell the recordings to porn sites so they can make money and be seen by thousands of eyes.
So, it is important to know how to detect hidden cameras around you to protect yourself and your privacy.
To find out, Tjia and his team hid 27 cameras in a house, then gave CNBC International the commonly recommended tools to find them.
In total, CNBC conducted five rounds of testing to see which method was most effective.
Test 1: Using the 'naked eye'
First, check the room using the easiest and cheapest method, namely the naked eye test.
One of the CNBC team, Victor Loh, went from room to room, noting that nothing seemed strange or suspicious. After 20 minutes of searching, he found a camera embedded in the wall clock because it looked like the time on the clock was wrong.
“I found one. But it was very well disguised,” he said
Test 2: Using a cell phone
For this test, Victor downloaded a popular app called Fing, which scans Wi-Fi networks for cameras. He also used his phone's flashlight to make it easier to see the camera lens.
The app shows there are 22 devices connected to the home Wi-Fi but no cameras.
Tjia explained that when his team members installed cameras at home, they also installed a second wireless network. They then connected the hidden cameras to the network, bypassing the home's main network.
“Even if we didn't do this, the app would show the camera was in the house, but not where it was,” he said.
Victor had better luck using his cell phone flashlight. With a flashlight, he found three more cameras, namely a Wi-Fi repeater, a shirt button and a teddy bear.
Tjia said that most hidden cameras were made in China, which ironically is prohibited in the Bamboo Curtain country.
Test 3: Using a radio frequency detector
With only four of the 27 cameras found, it's time to turn to devices designed to find hidden cameras such as radio frequency detectors that beep when close to a surveillance camera.
That works when the camera is turned on and connected to Wi-Fi, meaning they won't find cameras that use SD cards to store data, Tjia said.
The detector is also susceptible to false alarms.
This device also had a built-in lens detector, but the beeping proved so annoying that Victor didn't find any cameras with this device. The device even beeps when it is in a part of the house where there are no cameras at all.
Test 4: Using a lens detector
Next with a lens detector that is cheap, portable, and easy to use. These devices emit infrared light, which is reflected back from the camera lens as red dots.
However, you have to be close to the camera for it to work.
Despite its popularity, Victor only found two cameras with this device, namely one inside an essential oil diffuser, and the other on a Wi-Fi mesh device.
Test 5: Using advanced lens detector
For the final test, Victor used a more advanced lens detector.
Shaped like binoculars, this detector also highlights light reflected from the camera lens. However, this device is capable of working remotely, allowing Victor to see the camera from across the room. Can also be in a bright or dark room.
Victor again found the camera in a tissue box and leather bag, and another buried among the files under the table. But he needed to look directly into the lens to find it.
In total, he found 11 cameras with this device.
The end result
In total, Victor managed to find 17 of the 27 cameras. This wasn't a bad result nor a good one, considering the time he spent finding it wasn't easy.
“When you travel, of course you are completely exhausted. The last thing you want to do is not spend an hour looking at every nook and cranny just to find a camera,” he said.
Social media posts about hidden cameras have increased nearly 400% in the past two years, according to data firm Sprout Social. Not surprisingly, many articles are dedicated to finding quick and easy solutions to this growing problem.
“But in this game of cat and mouse, hidden cameras are superior. The detection tools are getting better, and so are hidden cameras, said Tjia.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
(dce/dce)