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Comment by chrsstrm | Hacker News Reader

I have a routine when entering a hotel room that involves scanning for devices similar to what the article mentions (but not as far as using specialized equipment). I'm not paranoid about being spied on, giving a proper once-over makes me feel more at ease when inside the room. You never find anything, which is always a relief, but a couple years ago when hotels started installing smart mirrors it sure made my heart beat faster when you shut off the bathroom light and look at the mirror with a light source. I've also recently started seeing hall effect switches on hotel room doors. I'm not sure how they are being used, but I usually pull the magnet out of the door and put it on the mini bar and no one comes running thinking the door has been left open. I'm not a fan of the hotel knowing when I come and go. I've seen a motion sensor once but I believe those are more for the room's HVAC.

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Of course the hotel can track your face with lobby cameras, your room key when you authenticate with the elevator and door, and monitor your use of the Wi-Fi, so really they don't need a camera or hall effect sensor to know you are coming and going or get some idea of your preferences.

I would be genuinely surprised if hotels implemented facial recognition. I'm the one who doesn't touch hotel WiFi - cell tethering to the rescue. And yes, all these hotels use NFC keycards, which makes the placement of door sensors even more puzzling. You can't be invisible in a hotel but there is a level of knowledge on your whereabouts that they just don't need. Sadly the Las Vegas incident isn't helping as management is more paranoid than ever of a repeat.

They are already doing so. VIP recognition and check-in are two cases.

> who doesn’t touch hotel WiFi

Not even with a custom DNS or VPN?

i dont think the point is tracking your patterns [that is an issue of itself tho] i think the more proximate issue is that a criminal may photograph record or live stream our intimate moments that occur when there is a full expectation of privacy.

My understanding is that the hall-effect sensors usually work in tandem with other occupancy sensors to lower HVAC bills, like: http://axxind.com/hospitality/guestpresence/ .

I think the hall effect sensor functions as a "latch" to prevent the motion system from turning off the HVAC if you are in another room of a suite, out of view of the motion sensor, or asleep.

This is correct. In addition to working in a hotel for ten years, I was also there when it was gutted and renovated and the system installed. While some hotels may track this stuff beyond just a simple occupancy flag for HVAC (e.g., Las Vegas), the vast majority don’t have the interest or capability to.

> a couple years ago when hotels started installing smart mirrors

What do you mean by "smart mirrors" in this context? I can see various possibilities online, I'm just curious as to what it is that hotels have actually been installing and why. (Not having seen such a thing in a hotel myself)

They know when you come and go by your key card. I was in a hotel recently in which the elevator would only move if you swiped your key card _and_ chose your floor—no other floor, even the lobby.

sometimes i go to the suite at random intervals and swipe the card open the door then lock up and leave for another while, hoping it screws up any attempt to make a pattern.

There may be someone coming, seeing the door is closed, and just leaving a note for maintenance to fix it when you aren't around.

They may also be using those sensors to know if someone opens your door while you're out of the hotel and/or without an authorized keycard, which might mean a robbery attempt.

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