Do you really need a hidden camera?

The first and most important question to ask yourself is “How am I going to use this?” Can it be used as a “nanny cam” to make sure your children are well taken care of? Are you trying to stop employee theft? Are you experiencing repeated vandalism? A hidden camera should only be used to document suspected dangerous or illegal activity when there is no other way to catch the culprit.

A big problem with hidden cameras is that too often they are used for less than ethical reasons. A news story recently hit my desk about an apartment building owner who had wired four of his apartments with hidden cameras. He placed them in the bathrooms and bedrooms of the tenants. Fortunately, the cameras were accidentally discovered and the owner was arrested and is in jail. I’m sure this is not an isolated case.

One way to make sure you don’t fall victim to a hidden camera or microphone is to purchase and use a signal detector. They are more commonly known as “error detectors”. We have all seen them used on TV and in movies. Simply turn on the handheld unit and walk around the room or “sweep” the room. The signal detector picks up the signal transmitted by the hidden camera or microphone and helps you locate its exact position. When looking for a hidden camera or microphone, look everywhere. Insects come in many shapes and sizes and can be smaller than a penny. If you find a hidden camera or microphone, don’t touch it. Call the police immediately and let them deal with it.

If you want a hidden camera for a good reason, there are plenty of types to choose from. Most hidden cameras are built into everyday items you find around a house, such as clocks, radios, thermostats, smoke detectors, lamps, etc. Anything and it could contain a hidden camera. When deciding what kind of hidden camera you want, make sure that it fits the decor of the room. As an example, I don’t think I would put a nice clock with bright neon lights in my contemporary living room. But it would probably fit nicely in my game room.

In addition to considering the decoration, you have to decide what type of hidden camera you want. Basically there are 3 types:

1. Wireless

2. Wiring

3. Autonomous

With the wireless hidden camera you will have the element that contains the camera and a transmitter. This transmitter sends the video signal through the air to a receiver. The receiver is then connected to a recording device, monitor, or television for viewing.

The wired hidden camera will have an A/V cable coming out of the unit that will connect directly to a recording device, TV, or monitor.

The stand-alone hidden camera will have the camera and a recording device, usually an SD memory card, hidden inside it. To see what has been recorded, simply take the memory card out of the unit and put it in your computer to view it. This type is usually the easiest to set up.

There are many options available when buying a hidden camera: black and white or color, low light capability, motion detection, date and time stamp, etc. You will be able to find the camera that fits your needs and your budget.

The bottom line is that no matter what style or type of hidden camera you buy, make sure you buy it for a legitimate and ethical reason and use it correctly.