Photo: Getty Images
If you stay in an airbnb or a hotel, you probably don't think twice about the amenities offered. Perhaps you'll brew and enjoy complimentary coffee from the coffee maker, or binge a series on a streaming service that's been paid for, but you might not realize that one convenience you've been provided with might not be as it seems - a USB charging cube.
It always feels like you need another cube, even if you've brought some of your own, so if you find one in your room, there's a good chance you'll plug it in and charge up a device with it, but some cubes out there don't only charge, they also film you. Search Amazon for "USB cube camera" and you'll see dozens of pages offering USB cubes in all shapes and sizes, only they are described as spy devices since they allow for unsuspecting people to be recorded.
Photo: Amazon.com
Worst of all, it's not just those innocuous charging cubes that could have a camera hiding inside of them. Smoke detectors can easily hide cameras as well, especially if they are placed right above the bed, and digital alarm clocks are also used to as spy devices that secretly film guests.
Marcus Hutchins, who teaches cybersecurity on Instagram and TikTok, explained in a video what to be on the lookout for if you suspect a hidden cam in your room. One way to tell if there is a camera in an object is to shine a bright light at it. Camera lenses have a bluish reflection to them.
Hutchins also suggests you should be wary of any devices, or holes in a wall, that face a shower, a bed or a dressing area, since they are likely hiding places for cameras. In the case you ever wind up discovering a hidden camera, you should immediately leave and report it to the police.
Commenters appreciated the warning, but were equally disturbed, writing things like, "Fantastic, another thing to be paranoid about," and, "That's it, I'm showering in clothes."
Stay up to date with the latest security tips by following Marcus on TikTok.