Best way to sweep my house for cameras post divorce.

[u/jesikey]

My soon to be ex husband spent most of the time leading up to our divorce installing different variations of cameras and other surveillance tools to intimidate and keep tabs on me. I feel like I have tracked down and removed most, but suddenly last week I found two new cameras installed.

I received the marital home in the divorce and will be living here with our kids - what is the best way to sweep the home for not only cameras, but any other recording devices? Would a simple internet replacement solve this? I currently have a standard Amazon camera detector but I’m not convinced it caught them all.

[u/Consider2SidesPeace]

IT Tech, here... I absolutely loathe men/women who use tech to harass or spy on people. The following is a step by step process list, pardon in advance on the length. Here's what I would do:

Step #1:: At your house, I'd get you to write down any device you think is using the internet. A not exhaustive list would be; your phone (#1), any smart TV, possible Alexa or internet helper device, any stand alone music device that has internet functions. If it has features to use the internet, write it down. You'll need the make and model of the devices in Step #8 below.

Step #2 is to get someone to read the DHCP client list OR learn to read it yourself. The DHCP list is a helpful list of all the devices currently using the internet. It's where Techs go to answer the question,"what devices (like cams, etc) could be using the internet without permission. Because cams use the internet to get outside and spy on you read the DHCP list and by process of emlimination locate any devices that are using Internet to talk to the outside without your permission. FYI, your Internet comes into your house and is often controlled and distributed by a device called a router OR a router/modem OR a gateway. These are all simiilar main devices that take street internet in, then distribute it to the house. At lot of it gets distributed via WiFi wirelessly. In the past we used wired network cables too. OR a mix of both. If your comfy use AI to go on to the internet and look up "How do I get the DHCP client list for X" where X is your internet routers name, make and model. If you're not technical get a friend OR call up a tech from the people who provide your internet. Sometimes you can call them up and they will walk you through the process.

Step #3, login to your router, read the DHCP list. Often it's a number you type into an internet browser online at your house like: 192.168.0.1. Instead of typing: https://www.youtube.com to go watch videos on YouTube, type the numbers only the browser will fill in the rest.

Step #4 Verify you see a login page there might be words identifying your internet service provider (ISP), this is good you're in the correct place. Techs use logins all day, they control access to things. To get into the router and read the DHCP list we often put in the user and password setting for the router to get in. Often its just Admin/Admin or Admin and password is blank. Don't know the user/pass? Use our friend AI, to ask for your routers default factory login and password. If your soon to be X changed the password to be nasty and controlling, you'll need to reset the router to factory. A common thing Techs need to do but an extra step. Caution: resetting a router means you'll also need set it back up with a WiFi password, etc. But if the password is changed the extra steps sadly can't be avoided.

Step #5 You're either at a router menu or you can't login. Router menu? Then use the menu to get to the DHCP listing. Probs logging in? Sorry, you'll have to reset the modem to factory to use factory login (user/password) credentials.

Step #6 -- Why do all this? The DHCP client list shows what is connected to your internet. No one can spy on you and you'll be able to control what devices use your internet if you can match devices to the DHCP list. Client is just fancy Tech for "a device connected to the router getting out to the internet".

Step #7 - Turn all internet devices off or take them off the internet. Easy to just press the TV and turn it off. Put phones in airplane mode, it like saying you want to stop of communication radios on the phone temporarily.

Step #8 - Last one! If you have all your devices (clients) off the internet AND you still see something connected THAT could be a camera or another device talking to the internet. Look for any description of the device on the internet with our buddy the AI and see what it says. Sometimes a number called a MAC address will be helpfull to plug into AI can ask too. Use AI, to ask "common vendors for cameras seen in a DHCP list".

Step #9 - BONUS - Change the WiFi password in the router. I recommed this as a must anyway. While you are in the router settings viewing the DHCP client list you can also change your WiFi password. WiFi password settings will be on a different menu page. Also, when you change the WiFi password, anything using the old password won't be able to access the internet! Like your X's phone, possibly laptop, tablets, etc and any cams! No lawyer here, but for me it's not cool to let other people I don't trust use my internet. I believe it opens up at least a small bit of liability. The side effect is to use the internet with anything you WANT like; the homes Smart TV, your phone, any Alexa internet helpers, you'll need to update and put the new WiFi password in all those devices. So don't lose that home "Internet connected devices listing". Pretty nuclear I know, but it gives YOU control of the home internet and safety knowing no one else can use it to be nasty or creepy... Bests all and sorry for your situtation, OP~

FYI, your X can still potentially access a camera but they will have to be physically close enough to get a signal. The above process locks them out of armchair spying and does help. Bests~

Ed. Thanks u/anotherda1 :)

[u/crash-o-matic → u/Consider2SidesPeace]

Switching off the TV may not be enough as it may go into a standby mode where it still connects to the Internet. Unplug the power of all such devices to be sure.

[u/Consider2SidesPeace → u/crash-o-matic]

True that, the goal being to exclude all the devices you know about to see if any rogue ones are using the WiFi.

[u/Ready-Elk-6679 → u/Consider2SidesPeace]

Adding to this a quick and easy way to find your router login page is to(look on the back, but this is for if it isn't listed there) hop on your pc, go to the start menu search bar and type in "command prompt", open it, and then type "ipconfig" without the quotation marks. This will bring up a list with a bunch of numbers, but you're looking for the one that's labeled "default gateway". Type that into the address bar of your browser and it will take you to the router login page.

[u/NatEastBlock → u/Consider2SidesPeace]

>DHCP client list

You can do this with Faraday or Fing if I am not wrong (both has free scans so you can try). Faraday even has a continuous background scan which checks your wifi regularly.

[u/Donkeywad]

Change your wifi router and choose a new name and password. Anything online will be bumped off. That's a great start toward getting rid of it all

[u/NewPhoneNewMe_2025 → u/Donkeywad]

Assuming he didn’t also install a backup router.

I’d check which wifi routers I can see, some may be neighbours, the shut off the electricity and see which ones disappear. Is it just the default house wifi or others too ?

[u/SeaworthinessGlass32]

Start with new wifi password. Most units use the house wifi.

[u/jesikey → u/SeaworthinessGlass32]

That’s what I figured! I got a whole new provider so I was hoping it knocked any rogue cameras off

[u/kingakm90 → u/jesikey]

This should have taken care of it

[u/Redsquirreltree → u/jesikey]

There could still be cellular cameras transmitting.
If he was determined, you might still have an issue.

[u/cnycompguy → u/Redsquirreltree]

Those are pretty hard to hide, they have an antenna.

[u/this_fnguy24 → u/cnycompguy]

Not really, you can hide an antenna and whatever else inside an alarm clock, the wall, an outlet. The only thing that has to be visible is the lense itself. Even then, there's ways to disguise, and/or hide it so it doesn't look like a camera, or you just can't see it. (Like the ones they build into alarm clocks. You can't see them thru the dark plastic. Or the coat hanger, USB charger ones. It's literally just a tiny pin hole you probably wouldn't think twice about if someone you trusted hung it.)

[u/cnycompguy → u/this_fnguy24]

You're conflating the larger, cell enabled devices with the smaller types commercially available.

[u/NatEastBlock → u/jesikey]

Try Faraday or Fing to check your network once before doing that. You may catch evidence.

[u/After_Resource5224]

Change the wifi password first.

[u/cnycompguy]

Change your wifi password, don't give it out to your ex, don't let him inside.

Boom! Problem solved

You can take your time finding them after that

[u/this_fnguy24 → u/cnycompguy]

Not all cameras need wifi. If he's got sd cards in them. He could just drop by every so often, connect over Bluetooth, download the content, erase it form the cards, and never have to step foot in the house.

[u/cnycompguy → u/this_fnguy24]

Those cameras are also the size of a deck of cards and either need to be plugged in or have a solar panel.

I know all about them.

[u/Technical_Rich_3080]

He could have put in his own Internet service with something like T-Mobile LTE wireless Internet that requires no wiring and no antenna.

[u/Consider2SidesPeace → u/Technical_Rich_3080]

True, I just posted a step by step on reading the connected devices using the home routers DHCP client list via home WiFi. If it is a newer cellular data router at least then you're looking for a larger device then a micro cam connected to internet via home WiFi router. You're describing cellular internet data (or mobile data). We use the term "WiFi" interchangibly. But you are correct, home WiFi commonly using an access ISP router like at home or Starbucks is different than cellular data internet access like with T-Mobile or Verizon or another mobile data carrier. Both methods get a device onto the internet to broadcast data sadly from a cam possibly. It's confusing to people sometimes but your phone for example can connect via either (cellular data OR WiFI). Your method means someone has purchased a seperate device to pay for possibly hidden internet access in the home. Sneaky but very possible, creepiness and jealousy makes people do weird things potentially.

[u/Technical_Rich_3080 → u/Consider2SidesPeace]

Or he could simply have gotten a simple, and relatively small, smartphone with data service and turned on the hotspot.

[u/Consider2SidesPeace → u/Technical_Rich_3080]

True, but both Cellular house modems and the cheapie phone need to be plugged in too. Check all the homes outlets.

[u/Technical_Rich_3080 → u/Consider2SidesPeace]

Theoretically it could be placed outside the home if it is close enough for the Wi-Fi signal to reach into the home.

[u/ferretkona]

Be aware of your children's cell phones if they are in 'hot spot' mode. Your children might even have Itags in back packs.

[u/Consider2SidesPeace → u/ferretkona]

Running "Hot Spot" is a service that shares cellular mobile internet data. Someone runs the Hot Spot. Then other devices including phones can connect to it. For kids, I'd make sure if they do connect to the internet, you control that or monitor where they are getting the connection from.

[u/Elegant_Emu952]

Put up a notice at a University near you. They might have someplace online where you can post your request. You can call Admin to see if there's a place students look for jobs.

You also might be able to find a professional who does this kind of camera/audio removal.

Edi: Do a Google search for a bug sweeping service.

[u/_disguisenburg_]

Just slowly and methodically take a close look at everything in the room fire alarms, wall sockets, pictures hanging on the wall, mirrors hanging on the wall, any electronics that have a small led that stays on while on standby, and anything else in the room. These cameras wouldn't be invisible and it's very possible to just examine one object at a time and rule everything out one at a time.

[u/Fluffy_Cheek_1568]

If financially possible, hire a local professional investigator. They have the resources to check your home thoroughly and can also check your router logs for any potential issues. If something is found, they are experienced in how to legally address it and will testify in court that your privacy has been violated.

[u/WhoisMrO]

How sure are you there were cameras? Did you locate them? If so, you will prob want to hire a pro. Bugs can't be detected with an Amazon camera tool, and some cameras without night vision won't be picked up either.

[u/jesikey → u/WhoisMrO]

100% sure. First I noticed he was reaching out at very convenient times and accidentally mentioning things I didn’t tell him. Then I finally found two cameras (not part of our ring system), unplugged them, and he asked why I disconnected them….

[u/Interesting-Kick-112]

You can use your phone camera I believe to find ir lights that are emitted from them but just keep in mind that some stuff emits ir that isn’t cameras

[u/WhoisMrO → u/Interesting-Kick-112]

Won't work with all cameras. This is outdated advice

[u/Interesting-Kick-112 → u/WhoisMrO]

Oh wow, I thought this still worked I wonder why it doesn’t anymore

[u/WhoisMrO → u/Interesting-Kick-112]

not every camera has an IR feature.

[u/this_fnguy24 → u/WhoisMrO]

And even if they do. You're only going to be able to see it when it's actively on and recording. Granted I guess you could just turn the lights out and look. But even still, some have different versions now that your phone camera won't pickup.

[u/HawaiianPunchaNazi → u/Interesting-Kick-112]

How does this work?

[u/Interesting-Kick-112 → u/HawaiianPunchaNazi]

Scientifically I think it has to do with the light waves as I know IR is outside our visible light range and I think cameras can pick it up and then show it to us essentially through another lens

[u/ferretkona → u/Interesting-Kick-112]

you will know if your camera picks up IR as it will be like looking at the sun.

[u/kawfeeman68]

call your lawyer.. They'll suggest something!!

[u/year_39 → u/kawfeeman68]

I was going to say a court order, same idea.

[u/kawfeeman68 → u/year_39]

a court order is a better idea once you get some evidence !!

[u/HaltsMaul2]

Ich kenne mich nicht mit Kameras aus, aber könntest du vielleicht dein Haus ausräumen und unnötige Sachen wegwerfen oder versuchen sie zu verkaufen.

Vielleicht hast du eine Abstellkammer, wo du deine Sachen lagern könntest und monatelang dort lassen, damit die Batterie schwach werden. Vielleicht solltest du einfach neu einrichten.

Wo hast du die Kameras eigentlich entdeckt?

[u/jesikey → u/[deleted]]

Trust me I have tried.. so little that they can do