Field Manual Books
Practical field manuals by a former CIA officer · calm, sourced, no gadget hype

Object by object

Is it a hidden camera?

The 90-second sweep is the routine. This page is the reference — pick the object bothering you and get the specific tell, not a generic list.

Almost everything on this list is innocent almost all the time. The point isn't to suspect every object in the room — it's to know the one or two things that actually separate a normal one from a positioned one, for the specific thing you're looking at right now.

Smoke DetectorEvery room legally needs one, and most hotels and rentals have several — so a sm… Alarm ClockA bedside alarm clock is expected furniture — it sits at eye level, stays plugge… USB Wall ChargerRentals often leave a spare charger in an outlet as a courtesy, so an extra char… Plug-in Air Freshener Or DiffuserCommon in rentals, especially bathrooms and entries, and normally mounted low ne… Picture FrameEvery room has several, and they’re part of the room’s decorating story, which i… Smart Speaker (Alexa/Google-style Device)Some hosts genuinely leave one for guests, and legitimate smart speakers have a … Wall Outlet Or Outlet CoverA fake-outlet camera needs its own hidden power source or battery, which is more… Showerhead Or Shower FixtureAlmost never a hiding spot in practice — the housing is small, wet, and mechanic… Pen (in A Cup Or On A Desk)A pen sitting in a cup or on a desk is the most ordinary object in a rental, whi… Clock RadioFunctionally identical to the alarm-clock entry above, but worth its own line be… Wi-Fi RouterEvery rental has at least one, and it needs to sit somewhere central with an uno… TV Or Streaming/set-top BoxA streaming stick, a soundbar, and a cable box are all normal and all have small… Tissue BoxPresent in almost every bedroom and bathroom, and completely disposable in most … Wall ClockDecorative and expected in almost any room, and mounted at a height that happens… Motion Sensor Or "alarm System" SensorLegitimate in short-term rentals for security systems, and normally mounted high… ThermostatStandard in almost every rental, mounted centrally on a wall at a height that gi… Exit Sign Or Smoke-alarm Strobe LightMostly seen in larger rentals, whole-home listings, and anything close to hotel-… Vent Cover (HVAC Or Bathroom Exhaust)Every room has at least one, mounted for airflow rather than a view, and in most… Stuffed Animal Or Shelf DecorCommon in family-oriented or whole-home rentals as leftover or welcome decor, an… Power Strip Or Extension CordCommon in rentals with too few outlets, and normally just distributes power with… Light Switch PlatePresent in every room and touched constantly, which makes it a genuinely uncommo… Exterior Doorbell Or Driveway CameraVery common and, unlike everything else on this list, usually disclosed… Hollowed-out Book On A ShelfA genuinely rare housing in short-term rentals — it requires a host to plant a s… Extra Screw Hole Or Mounting BracketEvery wall has legitimate screw holes from shelving, art, and fixtures that came… Phone Charging Cable With Nothing AttachedRentals frequently leave spare cables around for guest convenience, so a loose c…
Cover: The Traveler's Counter-Surveillance Field Manual
The Field Manual — PDF edition

Prefer the full method in one place, offline? The complete system — every check on this site plus the ten-minute walkthrough, audio devices, your legal rights, and what to do if you find something. 47 printable pages, instant download, keep it on any device.

Get the Field Manual — $27

Prefer Kindle? $7.99 on Amazon.

Related

The 90-second room sweepFour steps, no gear — the check to run when you arrive. Find hidden cameras in an AirbnbWhere devices actually hide, and the rules hosts must follow. The flashlight trickThe one free method that catches a camera even when it is off. The two-way mirror testWhy the fingernail trick doesn't work — and what does. Do detector apps work?What a controlled lab study found when 11 apps met real hidden cameras. Find a GPS tracker on a carThe 60-second check, plus the data your rental car keeps. Unknown AirTag alert?What the tracker warnings can and cannot do, and the manual check. Found something? Do thisThe order matters: don't touch it, cover your sightlines, document.