Remember when, in the movie Matrix, Neo discovered that he was constantly being watched? Today, you don't need to take the red pill to know if someone is spying on you: a privacy scanner as big as a remote control is enough. Technology has made us more vulnerable, but it has also given us the tools to defend ourselves (or to comb our paranoia).
When paranoia becomes caution
Hidden cameras are no longer just the stuff of spy movies. With devices becoming smaller and cheaper, the risk of finding one in your room is more real than you think. Cybersecurity experts report an increase in cases of unauthorized surveillance in accommodation facilities. It's no longer a question of being paranoid: it's a question of being cautious.
And we're not just talking about cameras: There are hidden microphones, GPS trackers, and other devices that would make even James Bond feel at home (or uncomfortable).
How a Privacy Scanner Works
The heart of these devices is RF (Radio Frequency) technology, which works like a metal detector but for wireless signals. Instead of looking for metals, it looks for radio waves emitted by surveillance devices. The frequency range is from 1 MHz to 6,5 GHz, which in layman’s terms means it can detect just about any modern surveillance device: a super sense that lets you “see” wireless signals. The system uses LEDs that light up when it detects something suspicious. Kind of like that Ghostbusters thing, but instead of detecting ghosts, it finds hidden cameras.
Size matters, especially when traveling. And these scanners are designed to be space-saving: they’re about the size of a remote control.
The battery is rechargeable, so no stress about flat batteries at the most inopportune moment. And the sensitivity is adjustable: you can make it more or less “sensitive” depending on the environment. It's like having a little electronic bloodhound always ready to sniff out unwanted devices.
Between paranoia and caution
It makes me smile to think that we have reached the point of having to take an anti-spy on vacation. It seems like the plot of a Black Mirror episode, but it is reality. But perhaps it is better this way: a quick check of the room can let us sleep more peacefully. And if it finds nothing? Well, better one more check than an unauthorized video on the net.
Privacy Scanners, The Price of Peace of Mind
About forty euros: that's how much the peace of mind of knowing that no one is spying on us costs. The model in the cover photo of the article costs even a little less (look it up yourself, it's not a promotional item). It almost seems like little, considering the alternative. It's not necessarily a purchase that you will use often. But it's like a fire extinguisher: better to have it and not need it than the opposite. And then, let's face it: there's something fun in feeling like a secret agent while you go through the scanner in the hotel room. I almost put on sunglasses too.
I like to think that there are some aspiring voyeurs out there who are rethinking their plans thanks to these devices. Technology has made us more vulnerable, but it has also given us the tools to defend ourselves. As they say in the Matrix… the choice is yours: blue pill, red pill, or “go to hell, I do what I want and if anyone watches me on camera, I feel sorry for them”?