Hidden Camera Detector app – Help Page

Hidden Camera Detector app allows multiple techniques to detect different types of cameras.  Each technique should be applied to detect a specific type of camera. In short, you can not detect a wired camera using the infrared camera detection technique. 

Please go through this link to know who each technique works. Some of the features need certain hardware capabilities in your phone. For example, you need a magnetic sensor in your phone to detect wired cameras.  

App receives data from the magnetic sensor of your phone in raw format. This data is a magnetic signal from nearby objects. This is the same sensor that is used by the compass app to find the north direction based on the earth’s magnetism. After getting data from the magnetic sensor, the app removes unnecessary noise and earth’s magnetic noise and convert the magnetic signal into meaningful number. Then app analyzes the magnetic activity and tries to decide if that matches with magnetic activity from typical camera units. If it does, the app will beep with the respective message on the screen.

The app will only beep if magnetic activity matches with the magnetic activity from typical camera units. Sometimes it can also be a false signal depending on magnetic influence caused by other electronic devices or even electric wiring inside walls.  In that case, we recommend users inspect the lens over that object. If you are unable to find the lens over the suspect or object itself is an electronic device then you can ignore this message considering it as a false signal.

Unfortunately, the app needs a magnetic sensor to work. You need to try the app on a different device that has a magnetic sensor. Almost all recent devices have magnetic sensors but that totally depends on the manufacturer of your device. Like Uber app needs GPS on your device to work, this app needs a magnetic sensor on your device.

Technically this is not possible yet because magnetic sensors on mobile devices are not highly sensitive or designed for this purpose. More the distance, the magnetic activity gets reduced to zero and almost impossible to detect.

It all depends on the type of camera, circuit boards, and power supply units used for the camera. The app does not detect the lens but the electronic hardware of that camera. For laptop cameras, the only lens is at the top center but all camera units are embedded in the motherboard. hence it is difficult to detect such cameras.

The hidden camera detector app offers 3 different ways to detect different types of cameras. Each mechanism has its limitation. Sensors available on mobile phones are not meant for this purpose. App offers the best it can help detect the cameras with limited hardware capabilities. But as technology evolves, the app is making use of them as much as possible to detect the cameras. Let say AI to detect some pinhole cameras, CCTV and mobile cameras, etc.  

The app is not 100% accurate. User intervention is required. The app should be used as a tool to help you scan hidden cameras effectively rather than your own eyes. The user is expected to understand how each function works and make the best use of it. 

Open the app, select the “Detect Wired Camera” option and rotate your phone in a horizontal 8 direction. That should reset and stabilize the numbers. To confirm, open the compass app and make sure the compass app is pointing to the correct north. Watch this 9-second video on how to do that.

No, you do not need to move the app closer. You can detect IR cameras as per the preview coverage. Hence it is advisable to scan 360° to cover the maximum area. If you have doubt on a specific device or specific area in the room, you can move the app closer and inspect more.

App does support zoom option which you can leverage.

IR lights are captured by digital camera sensors and those are shown in the camera preview.

In case the app is unable to detect IR camera, kindly check

1. If the IR camera is really based on IR technology and not something else.
2. Position of IR blaster in that camera
3. In case the IR intensity is low, try to switch off all the lights and then perform the scanning. 

1. For Android devices, the app scans Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, and BLE devices at the same time which avoids manual efforts. 
2. App has a comprehensive list of commercially available wireless devices and their connectivity names. Hence this app holds the potential to detect more devices than manual scanning.
3. For Android, detecting Wi-Fi direct is painful as many devices have this option hidden or needs a Miracast app (Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct both are different). hence it is easy to detect such devices using the app. Nowadays almost all intelligent devices use Wi-Fi Direct. The threat is not only a Wi-Fi Direct camera but also television that has a camera and microphone. 
4. For iOS users, the app offers the same functionality to detect BLE cameras however they have to follow a guide to detect Wi-Fi cameras.

Yes, the name of the camera device can be a model number having multiple hyphens (“-“) in it. But it can also be another device. If you find such a device, it is better to ask for more information from the premises owner. If he is unable to provide justification then you may call authorities. But we recommend you to have a polite and respectful conversation with the premises owner first. Also, note that it’s about your security and you have all rights to the information.

For Android 9+ Devices, it is mandatory, not only to have location permission but also Location (GPS) must be ON to scan nearby Wi-Fi devices.

For more information, kindly read the restrictions section from https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/connectivity/wifi-scan#wifi-scan-restrictions