If you don’t like the idea of being watched when you shouldn’t be – you need to know how to detect a hidden camera in a mirror and other sneaky hiding spots. We’ll teach you what to look for and some ingenious ways to make sure your privacy is protected.
In these times, privacy is a fleeting thing. We should have the knowledge and power to fight for the private moments that are still in our control. Our goal is to get you prepared and informed so that you never get caught off guard again.
Let’s jump into the guide!
- How to Detect a Hidden Camera in Mirrors and Other Hiding Places
- How to Detect a Hidden Camera in a Mirror
- Method 1: “The Gap” False Mirror Test
- Method 2: Using a Bright Flashlight in the Dark
- After the Tests
- How to Detect Hidden Cameras with Mobile Phones
- How to Detect Hidden Cameras &
Listening Devices
- Detecting Low-End Hidden Cameras and Listening Devices
- Use the “Glint Finder and Glint Detector” App
- Buy a Professional Camera or Listening Device Detector
- Final Thoughts
How to Detect a Hidden Camera in Mirrors and Other Hiding Places
We’ll take a deeper look into the specific places you can look for hidden cameras. You’ll learn about some clever tricks and tests to find hidden cameras.
We’ll keep this easy and simple to follow. You’ll be able to use these tricks right away and without needing to spend much (if any) cash.
Let’s start with how to check if a mirror has a camera hidden behind it.
If you’ve ever stood in front of a mirror and had flashbacks of the countless horror movies you’ve seen, you’re not alone. According to Science Alert, loads of people feel like they’re being watched.
This sense is heightened when we’re in a hotel or public place since they’re out of our control.
It’s an uncomfortable feeling and isn’t something you want to lose sleepover. Mirrors can be creepy as they are, and your mind can play tricks on you. They’re also very common places to hide a spy camera in plain sight.
Here are some tricks to see if there is a hidden camera behind a mirror.
Method 1: “The Gap” False Mirror Test
The first test you can try out is a false mirror test. It’s quite simple and will tell you if the mirror you’re testing is genuine, or if there’s a chance that something is behind it.
With good lighting in the room, place your fingertip onto the mirror. Keeping your finger in place, move your head so that you can get an angled view of your finger (get your eyes about 5-10cm away from the mirror and about 20cm away from your finger).
If the mirror is genuine, you should see an obvious gap between your finger and its reflection in the mirror.
This is because there is an orange reflective coating on the back of the mirror, and the gap you are seeing is the thickness of the glass between your finger and the reflective coating.
The coating is opaque and a hidden camera won’t be able to see through it.
Method 2: Using a Bright Flashlight in the Dark
For this method, you’ll need to make sure the room is dark (it’s better at night) and that you have a powerful flashlight.
You need to shine the flashlight at the mirror from different angles. You should be looking for odd reflections and flashes. This often works as the hidden camera’s lens will reflect the powerful flashlight and give its position away.
This method doesn’t always work and you need to make the room as dark as possible. Also, don’t stand straight on (facing the mirror) and shine the flashlight. If it’s very powerful, you’ll hurt or even damage your eyes.
After the Tests
Once you’ve done these 2 tests and got results that suggest the mirror is false, or something is behind it, you’ll need to take action.
Either remove the mirror manually or leave the location. You could call a manager if it’s in a hotel or a public place too.
Take care when removing the mirror manually. If you’re wrong and the mirror breaks, you could land yourself in quite a bit of trouble.
Read Also: How to Detect Listening Devices in My Home
How to Detect Hidden Cameras with Mobile Phones
These days, almost everybody carries a phone with them. Other than being a privacy issue in and of themselves, they’re pretty useful for detecting the IR emissions from spy cameras.
This method isn’t foolproof and isn’t 100% effective at detecting spy cameras. Many spy cameras emit some kind of infrared light. This light isn’t visible to our eyes, but our cameras can pick it up.
If your phone has a night mode in its native camera app, you should activate it. This makes the camera more sensitive to light and more likely to pick up the IR emissions of the spy camera.
Open your camera and start panning around the room. Point it at places that you think the hidden camera might be.
If you see a white light coming from a place where there isn’t a light, it could be the IR emissions from the hidden camera. You’ll need to inspect the area manually to find the camera.
This being said, higher-end hidden cameras take measures to reduce their IR emissions. They’re harder to spot with this method – but it’s worth giving it a shot.
How to Detect Hidden Cameras & Listening Devices
Different methods can work here. Some of them involve buying equipment that’s designed to detect outgoing signals and feedback from listening devices. They can be quite costly, so we’ll only cover one of them.
There are some low-cost and free solutions you can try out if you feel there are listening devices and hidden cameras.
Detecting Low-End Hidden Cameras and Listening Devices
Here’s a nifty trick you can use to root out low-end listening devices and wireless hidden cameras. Bear in mind that this won’t work all the time.
Turn off your mobile data and turn off any automatic Wi-Fi connections. Use your phone or tablet (better yet, use a laptop as their Wi-Fi receivers are more powerful) and walk around your room/house.
Monitor the available networks for any strange network names. Be on the lookout for anything with “Cam” or “Camera” in the name.
Low-end listening devices and hidden cameras use standard Wi-Fi signals to transmit their data. This won’t work on higher-end devices as steps are taken to hide the signal and encrypt it.
Use the “Glint Finder and Glint Detector” App
Here’s a hidden camera detector app to help you out.
This app uses a magnetometer scanner to detect electromagnetic signals coming from places they shouldn’t be.
Search for the app in the Play Store and install it. Allow the permissions it requests and follow any on-screen instructions.
You have the option to scan with the magnetometer or an infrared camera scanner. There’s also a section with tips and tricks you can try out for yourself.
While the app isn’t foolproof, you can still get decent results. It pulls together a couple of different methods into one place for you to easily access.
When you’re scanning the room, you’ll need to start somewhere in the middle and slowly work your way towards the suspected areas. The phone will adjust the readings and relevant instructions. Follow them closely.
If at any time you get confused, there are prompts and small guidelines throughout the interface to keep you on the right track.
Buy a Professional Camera or Listening Device Detector
This is the most accurate and expensive method on this list. There are tons of options out there, but two of our favorite brands are Spy Hawk and JMDHKK.
They make exceptional quality products that are popular and reliable. You’ll need to do some searching to find a detector that matches your budget and your needs.
These devices detect the RF emissions from hidden cameras and listening devices. They’ll detect low-end and high-end devices without much trouble.
This might seem like overkill, but if you’re serious about your privacy and security, it’s an effective and consistent solution.
All you need to do is keep the device in your room and move it around. It’ll alert you when it detects RF and TEL signals and shows you where to look. You can control the volume and alarm types and the battery life is usually quite good.
If you’re going to be having an important conversation or meeting that needs to stay private, the phone methods can often be a little gimmicky. These devices will work almost all the time and on various types of cameras and listening devices.
Final Thoughts
Well done for taking the time to learn how to find these hidden devices. Your privacy matters and we all want to feel safe in our own homes or rooms.
Using the tips we’ve covered here, you’ll be ready to search any room or house for hidden cameras and listening devices. You’ll need to decide how important this is to you and whether or not you’ll need to buy professional equipment.
The best thing you can do now is to test out a couple of the methods we’ve covered and see what works best for you.
Take what you’ve learned on how to detect a hidden camera in mirrors and other hiding spots and put it into practice – you’ll feel better knowing your private life will stay private.
You Also Love To Read:
- How To Detect A Hidden Camera In Bathroom
- How To Detect A Hidden Spy Camera With iPhone [Solved] 2022
- How To Make A Hidden Door In Drywall – Guide From Expert!