A small gadget marketed to anxious travelers promises to scan hotel rooms and Airbnbs for hidden cameras — all for just $37 on Amazon.

The device, part of a growing category of consumer counter-surveillance tools, typically works by detecting lens reflections or wireless signals that cameras emit. You sweep it around a room, and it alerts you to potential threats.

It's an appealing pitch. Stories of hidden cameras discovered in rental properties have fueled legitimate privacy concerns. A 2024 survey found that nearly 60% of travelers worry about surveillance in accommodations.

But security researchers caution that these budget detectors have serious limitations. They can miss cameras that aren't actively transmitting, struggle with modern encrypted signals, and frequently trigger false positives from everyday electronics like smoke detectors and TV remotes.

"These devices might catch the most obvious, amateur-level cameras," says Marcus Chen, a privacy researcher at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "But anyone sophisticated enough to hide a camera well probably knows how to defeat a $37 scanner."

What Travelers Should Actually Do

Rather than relying solely on gadgets, experts recommend old-fashioned visual inspection. Check smoke detectors, clocks, USB chargers, and other objects with an unobstructed view of private areas. Look for tiny holes or unusual LED lights.

You can also use your smartphone: turn off the lights and scan the room with your phone's camera. Some hidden cameras use infrared for night vision, which shows up as bright spots on your screen.

The detector might provide some peace of mind, but it shouldn't be your only line of defense. As with most security tools, the cheapest option rarely offers the most protection.