How to Blind a Surveillance Camera

Last Updated: April 2, 2022

Blinding a surveillance camera can obscure your identity, but not your presence. A person watching through the camera will be able to tell that you're there, but they won't be able to see what you're doing. You can blind a camera in the dark using a LED, an infrared laser day or night, or how to cover up the lens of the camera.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using LEDs

1
Shine a powerful LED (light-emitting diode) directly into the camera lens. The brighter the flashlight, the better. Use a small device that you can easily store. This method only works well in the dark, so save it for stealthy excursions at night or in enclosed spaces.^{[1]
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2
Block your face with the light. Figure out exactly where the camera is, and shine the light directly into the lens. When properly executed, this technique should create a lens flare that makes it nearly impossible to tell what you look like.^{[2]
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Research source} Be warned that the flashlight method is not subtle. The sudden flash of light will alert any vigilant guard to your presence. However, you should at least be able to use the bright light to obscure your face.

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3
Hold steady. Be careful not to drop the light beam from the camera lens, lest you reveal your face. Make sure not to shine the light onto your face. Remember: this method only works if you are quick and precise.
4
Attach infrared LEDs to your clothing. For a quick fix, superglue a string of bright lights to a hat or headband. If you wish to get more involved, you can craft an LED "mask" that even more heavily obscures your face. Make sure that the lights are bright enough to blot out your face from the camera's view, but not so bright that they blind you!

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using an Infrared Laser

1
Point an infrared laser directly into the lens of the camera. This method is more subtle than shining a bright light around, but it also requires that you are much more precise. If the laser-point slips away from the lens for even an instant, the camera will catch your face. Act quickly and efficiently to avoid detection.^{[3]
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- This method should work day or night. It may be somewhat more effective in the dark.^{[4]
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- You can use any standard laser pointer here. In general, the stronger the laser, the more powerful the blinding effect.
2
Be aware of the shortcomings. The camera can see you until you get the laser aimed correctly. Anything that comes between the laser and the camera will instantly un-blind the camera. Also, the effectiveness of this method is a bit hard to gauge. From your end of the camera, you cannot tell if the laser is aimed correctly.
- Do not point the laser into your eye. You might blind yourself!^{[5]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  US Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  U.S. government agency responsible for setting and enforcing workplace safety standards
  Go to source} Consider wearing dark glasses to protect your vision, but do not expect them to keep you completely safe.
3
Look out for other cameras. The focus required of this method means that you can only blind one camera with one laser. The laser is more subtle than LEDs or a flashlight, but the effect is limited. If you need to blind multiple cameras at once, then you'll need as many lasers as there are cameras. Consider coordinating with friends.

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Question

Can a laser pointer damage a security camera?

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It is possible but most standard laser pointers won’t have sufficient power to damage the sensor of a security camera; and while a more powerful pointer is more likely be able to cause sensor damage, it has to be aimed extremely accurately and steadily, during which time the person so pointing is captured by the camera. Moreover, there is no way for the person pointing the laser to tell whether or not damage has occurred and reflection off the camera can damage the eyes. High level lasers not accessible to the average person, such as those used in medical equipment or for laser light shows, are able to affect a camera sensor with greater ease; this is why use of such lasers requires training and registration. Note that disabling security cameras with a laser is not legal in most jurisdictions.
Question

Is it legal to have a camera pointed at neighbor's house?

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Any answer depends on your jurisdiction; in some places it may be okay to record generalized visual footage as long as it’s not also recording audio, while in some jurisdictions it may be viewed as illegal surveillance. To be certain, seek legal advice from an attorney or ask your local municipality for guidance. It might be in your favor if you can demonstrate that the security camera is only picking up some sideways views as a side effect of primarily focusing on covering your own property and that there is no intention to surveil your neighbors. As a matter of courtesy, even if it's confirmed your camera's placement is legal, talk to your neighbor to explain that full coverage of your own property also means you happen to capture some of theirs but that you have no intention of disturbing their privacy. If possible, avoid such positioning altogether, both for legal certainty and good neighborliness.
Question

Can a laser mess up a camera?

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Yes, this is possible. Lasers used for light show displays tend to be a common source of camera damage, as these are powerful lasers. To avoid damage to your camera's sensor at a concert or other place where laser lights are in action, do not take photographs of the apparatus projecting the laser and do not photograph direct beams of the laser light. It is also good sense to not aim any laser, whether or a pointer or otherwise at a camera, as the camera's sensor is even more sensitive than the human eye.

Warnings

Enough high-brightness IR can cause eye damage!

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There are filters that prevent this from working on some cameras. Indeed, not all cameras are sensitive to IR in the first place.

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These devices may trigger some IR based fire detectors.

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Flash cameras may not be fooled.

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Remember: it is legal to hide yourself from surveillance cameras. Crime and illegal activity is another matter. Be careful, be vigilant, and be smart about what you're doing. You will only get one shot.

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Never do something illegal outside places where a person reasonably expects privacy, because it's legal for someone to watch you on a surveillance camera in those places to bring you to justice for doing something illegal.

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