Renting apartments has never been as simple as it is now. Airbnb makes it an easy job to find and book a living space for your holidays. However, you can be just a few clicks away from turning your weekend runaway into a horror story.

Now Airbnb has strict rules regarding the usage of security cameras and recording devices on host properties. The company makes it clear that hosts must inform their visitors of any presence of recording devices — either on or off. If there are any cameras in the room, you should receive a notification indicating where the host placed them. You should also be informed where the cameras are pointing at. The same rule applies to guests as well — you’re not allowed to monitor the host without their consent.

However, some hosts undermine the stated rules. Max Vest from Gainesville, Florida, decided to spend a few nights in Miami with his girlfriend. He booked a two-bedroom apartment via the Airbnb app. Previous visitors have reviewed the apartment positively, and comments described Ray, the host of the apartment, as “friendly and accommodating”. However, after having dinner with his girlfriend and returning to the studio, Max noticed something suspicious in the bedroom. Two rectangular shape chargers were lying on the ground while facing the bed. After taking a closer look, it appeared that the chargers had cameras inside them.

Airbnb states that in the history of over 400 million hostings, such incidents occur very rarely. But this should not even be a concern to begin with. According to Business Insider, there are Facebook groups with thousands of Airbnb hosts who share lewd and embarrassing photos of their guests captured via spying cameras. Visitors find cameras in smoke detectors, phone chargers, and even lightbulbs. To help you prepare for your next Airbnb visit, here are some tips for avoiding such incidents:

1. Send a message to your host, asking if there are any security cameras and hidden recording devices, both internal and external to the property. Make sure to phrase the question as mentioned above, so the host could not hide the mentioning of any other devices like “nanny camera.”

2. Take your time to look around. Don’t forget that cameras require unhindered visual field, so checking under a lampshade is likely to be useless. Picture frames, lightbulbs, charger adapters, and fake smoke detectors are some of the most common spying devices sold on Amazon. Pay attention to any smoke detectors that are placed directly over the bed.

3. Also, check if there are any chargers and alarm clocks left opposite to the shower. If you locate any of these gadgets, try shining your phone’s flashlight over the device to see if any lens reflections are bouncing off. Don’t hesitate to check all sides of the spying gadget, as the camera placements may differ.

4. You may have heard of tools that detect spying devices. These tools are useful to find radio frequencies and the Wi-Fi connection sources to specific gadgets. Yet, many of the hidden cameras neither emit radio frequencies nor use Wi-Fi connection, making spy detectors obsolete. However, if you suspect the device is using Wi-Fi signals to stream a live video, locate the router and turn it off. Once you turn off the Wi-Fi connection, your host may contact you. If that happens, chances are the host was monitoring you in real-time.

5. If you discover a hidden spying device in the property, you can either cover the lens or leave. A better option would be to do both. First, take a picture of the device as proof of the date, time, and location. You can use a bandaid or a post note to cover up the lens. Make sure to unplug the device and locate any placement for a memory card. If you find a memory card, take it and hold it as evidence. After following these steps, it is time to pack up and leave. Don’t spend time calling 911 and waiting for help inside the apartment. The host could turn hostile, putting you in danger. Only when you are away from the property, reach out to the police about the incident.

Ensuring safety is always the key to great experiences when spending time with your friends, traveling, working, or even browsing the internet. Hosts can use hidden cameras to spy on you in their apartments, but did you know that hackers can also spy on you without your consent? Using unsecured networks can expose your internet traffic to malicious hackers. They can take advantage of the situation to collect your personal data and even banking information. To protect yourself against such incidents, you should use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN establishes an encrypted connection between your device and a server. Modern encryption technology makes it virtually impossible to crack down the encrypted password, which protects your internet traffic. Other than that, using a VPN allows you to access the internet content that may otherwise be restricted in your country (like different Netflix libraries or news websites). If you would like to support my work and are interested in trying out a VPN, feel free to check out Atlas VPN. It is a free provider that will help you ensure the safety of your internet traffic!