Beat Big Brother: Dodge CCTV, phone taps and spies

By Rory Reid on 19 March 2008, 2:55pm

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The number of security cameras in the UK is astonishing. The UK has 1 per cent of the world's population and 20 per cent of the world's CCTV cameras. Croydon, believe it or not, has more cameras than New York City -- although that's fair enough, given how rowdy Tiger Tiger can get on a Saturday night. Some believe CCTV is a great way of keeping the peace, while others, like us, think it's far too open to abuse. Exercise your right to anonymity using these techniques:

URA/FILOART I-RASC headset
Essentially an elastic headband with a circle of infra-red LEDs at the front, the I-RASC headset sounds silly, but the light it emits is blinding to CCTV cameras. Better still, it's invisible to the human eye, so nobody will notice anything suspicious. Apart from the stupid-looking headband with tiny bulbs at the front. Unfortunately you can't buy these yet, but it doesn't look that difficult to knock one up in your shed. Buy the LEDs off eBay and the headband from NikeTown, and Bob will be your very anonymous uncle.
Do it yourself
Paranoia scale: 5 tinfoil hats out of 5

SpyFinder Hidden Camera Locator
If you don't want to hide from the cameras, you should at least know where they are. The SpyFinder helps you find hidden cameras, whether they be CCTV, camcorders or those sneaky spy/pinhole models used by the secret service and Top Gear's James May. Like the I-RASC, it uses a circle of ultra-bright LEDs, which in this case are located at the front of a viewfinder. Look through this viewfinder and hidden cameras in the field of view will brightly reflect the light from the LEDs, exposing their position. Knowing where cameras are can help you stay hidden, or at least arm you with the knowledge of when not to pick your nose.
£110 from Tom's Gadgets
Paranoia scale: 4 tinfoil hats out of 5