Why is there a power strip pointed at the bed?

Where the camera sits in a strip

The most common spot is the end cap, the short flat end opposite the cable. A pinhole there faces along the length of the strip, so when the strip lies on the floor the camera looks straight across the room at mattress height or lower. That end is also where you would expect a switch or a light, so a small dark dot does not look out of place.

The second spot is between two sockets on the top face. A lens there looks up, which suits a strip placed under a desk or on a low shelf. Some designs use the power switch's light as cover, with the lens right next to it.

Camera strips are usually a little longer or thicker at one end, where the board and memory card sit. The card slot is often on the underside.

Extension cords

Extension cord cameras work the same way, with the lens in the socket block at the end of the cable. The cord lets the owner put the camera anywhere within a few meters of an outlet, such as under a bed frame, behind a plant or along a wall. A cord running to the middle of a room with nothing plugged into its end is the pattern to notice.

Four questions to ask about any strip

• Is anything plugged into it? A strip with every socket empty, in a room with outlets nearby, has no obvious purpose.
• Which way does its end face? An end cap pointed at the bed, the shower door or a sofa is a placement choice.
• Is it warm while idle? A strip carrying no load should stay at room temperature. A camera board keeps it warm.
• Is there a hole that does nothing? A dot in the end cap or on the top face that is not a socket, a switch or a screw deserves a closer look.

Which Candor checks to use

Put your phone on the floor, or close to it, and use the lens finder. Because strip cameras sit low and look along the floor, you need to be at their level to catch the reflection. Sweep the end cap and top face slowly with the room dark. The shiny plastic around sockets and a lit power switch can both create bright spots, so treat each mark as a place to look, not a finding.

The Wi-Fi camera scan can flag a strip that streams to the owner's phone. Many do, since remote viewing is the selling point. If you are on the same network, look for a device flagged for offering a live video stream that you cannot tie to a visible camera or TV. A strip that only records to a card will not show up.

The magnetic sensor is of limited help. Every strip has metal contacts and wiring, and any plugged-in load adds to the reading. It is most useful when you compare two similar strips with nothing plugged into either.

Handling a suspect strip safely

Switch the strip off and unplug it from the wall by the plug, not the cable. Do not cut the cord or open the housing. Leave it where it is, turned to face the wall, take photos of it and where it pointed, and report it to the host, landlord, hotel or platform. If it was aimed at a bed or bathroom, contact police as well. The wall outlet guide covers other plug-in disguises.

Quick floor-level check for power strips and cords

1. Follow every cordTrace each power strip and extension cord from the wall to its end. Note any that end in open floor with nothing plugged in.
2. Look at the end cap and topCheck the flat end and the spaces between sockets for a small dot or dark window that is not a socket or switch.
3. Feel for idle warmthWith nothing plugged in, touch the housing near the end cap. Warmth means something inside is running.
4. Get low and use the lens finderDim the room, bring the phone close to floor level, and sweep the strip with Candor's lens finder from about half a meter.
5. Scan the networkRun the Wi-Fi camera scan on the network you joined and review any device flagged for a video stream.
6. Unplug, photograph, reportIf something looks wrong, switch the strip off, unplug it at the wall, photograph it, and report it.

Frequently asked questions