Kill Hidden WiFi Cameras With This Script

[Ben551]

Greetings ~

I fell across an old programming script that seems topical at the moment...

The positive? A programmer, Julian Oliver, invented a script to help guests fight against the “hidden camera” epidemic that is damaging the STR industry.

The negative? This is one of those times I feel a mild despair over the ends our customers now feel they must go to. I think the script is a great idea to help guests feel safe. But... that it was needed at all... sad face. 

Here is a link to the script:

https://julianoliver.com/output/log_2015-12-18_14-39

Its been around for a while, but I hadn’t known about it, so thought I’d share it. There seems to be daily news articles on hidden cameras at the moment, it’s fillng my inbox feed.

~ Ben

[Katie---Sean0]

@Ben551 – just my opinion but I personally don't think it's paranoid to have a concern about guests having hidden cameras. I'm actually always conscious that this could be a possibility every time I go into either of our Airbnb's at the Guest's invitation to do whatever – let in a cleaner, arrange a repair, etc. You just never know who's recording you these days and it's best to always have this in mind.

[Amy-and-Brian0]

@Ben551 - almost no one will be able to run this script though. 

It requires a GNU/Linux host (laptop, Raspberry Pi,
# etc) and the aircrack-ng suite.

I know what a Linux environment is, and setting one up that can run that script can be a beast.

But I bet 99% of people don't know what that is even, let alone have the patience to set it up.

That said, in the script, there's a link to https://plugunplug.net/ which has an appliance that might be something to take on vacation with you.

I'm not convinced it'll find all wi-fi cameras out there, but it probably does a decent enough job. It also looks like it might be able to disable useful things to hosts like doorbell cams or other security cams that don't have anything to do with the hidden cams people are worried about.

It also does nothing to help find cams that just record to memory and aren't wi-fi enabled. 

We don't use any cams - doorbell, security or otherwise. But we've staying in a couple Airbnb's that do. It does make you wonder...

[Ben551]

@Amy-and-Brian0 Yeah I wouldn’t say a Linux script is the most likely thing for people to travel with lol. But it does make me wonder if demand will encourage the development of applications around this type of script. It looks like you’ve already found one. You’re spot on too, it’s a hammer to crack a nut in a sense, because useful or benign things would likely be disabled in the process.

[Tracey471]

This is disgusting and even more so when you are now the target of a claim.  The person involved took two clocks - one a JBL clock with Bluetooth which we placed on the fridge in the kitchen to be used for the speaker function and a small simple clock in the bedroom.  When I cleaned the home I noticed the 2 clocks were missing, sent the guest a request for the return of the clocks. I put in a request for reimbursement from Air bnb as I did not have the items returned, and things got nasty from there.  He accused me of hidden cameras!   Please be careful out there as he turned my home upside down, took the items and has now put up a review and comment in reference to the home having hidden cameras.  Feeling sick that someone who has no proof accuse you and place ANY doubt for future bookings.