HACKING a Smartphone to Spot Security Cameras!

Removing infrared filter from a smartphone shows us part of the world we almost never see, hidden in plain sight.
If anyone can decipher the "secret code", post your answer in the comments.
Please consider helping fund the channel by becoming part of my "Quint-essential" support on Patreon:
/ quintbuilds
I only do per-creation subscriptions and recommend setting a monthly limit in case I upload more than once in a month (which will be rare). I want to have the option of taking a month off and not keep taking your money just because another month has passed!
Thanks for watching...
-Quint
Music:
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - Kevin MacLeod incompetech.com/
Night Snow - Artist: Asher Fulero
Lights by Sappheiros / sappheirosmusic

[@cleanpoop9929]

"pops right off" I laughed so hard as the filter cracked in half.

[@just4uamnda]

Bro I gotta tell you that you must be patient and keep doing what you do and the reward will be astonishing. Love the way you explain and the skills and knowledge you have. Great videos! Keep up the good work!

[@JM-yx1lm]

Dude hes gonna have 2 million subs by next year. This content is absolutely great.

[@adoptableplum]

man you need an hour long tv show. the modern Bill Nye. stay safe x

[@HolzMichel]

he's better'n bill nye - the junk science guy...way better

[@BurkenProductions]

Nah no one watches tv anymore, yt is fine

[@Maybe-So]

HolzMichel Ditto, ditto, ditto!!!!

[@ryanblake1066]

I would watch the shit out of this show.

[@jamesallen74]

@@HolzMichel Science is not for idiots, so go find your My Little Pony channel you broney.

[@BurkenProductions]

The words on the wall is saying "secret code" (pegh ngoq) in stupid klingon

[@QuintBUILDs]

OMG, you got it! My first phrase in Klingon honestly... Well done!

[@kennethschultz6465]

Yep defently klingon Respeckt

[@kolbyadams9979]

I thought I recognized it

[@herzogsbuick]

the humor in this video is fantastic. also, loved the sound analogy for the visible spectrum

[@HelloHiHelloHiHello]

Just stumbled upon this channel, and was pleasantly surprised. Great content, and very nice narration with calmness.. Not like other youtubers who just do blabbering fastly

[@shmehfleh3115]

I have a few security cameras deployed, and I can hear them snap their IR filters in & out of place when they switch to/from night mode. Over the past decade or so, a few companies have sold toy "night vision goggles," which were just cheap CCD cameras without an IR filter. And they work really well for just being toys!

[@alec1575]

I love the video, just watched a few and you REALLY earned my subscription. I love all of the effort put into these videos👍

[@vilasvirus7225]

Your channel is amazing! I really enjoyed your videos on your hydroelectric gutter :) I hope you post soo much more - I'm ready to binge on a whole bunch of your builds!

[@lynn5655]

The code looks like the Stargate address for 'Earth'. But, this is sooo cool to watch! I was laughing after your comment about how Santa finds houses in the off-season. You have so much information in your videos, things that we weren't necessarily taught in school. Thank you!

[@BurkenProductions]

Sadly not stargate address since it's a much better show, it's from the bad show startrek.. klingon the words say "secret code" (pegh ngoq) not hard to translate in 5 mins with google though :)

[@kennethschultz6465]

@@BurkenProductions IT's Rather nice that Klingon is known by Google .. We talked klingon in school.. IT was Damm funny... My Girlfrind is 42 i am 54 .. She said .. thats WHORF so ist KLINGON . She hawe watched the old Star treck .. .. All the films .. All the shows Now she see's StargÅte .. All of Them .. In kronologic .. so when they over lap She can follow the seprets shows .. Somtimes the shows X over

[@shawnr771]

I have watched several of your videos. You earned a subscriber. Your information is presented in a way that almost any can understand. Very well done. Another use for having an Infrared Laser is to mount to a Low light amplification scope. You can see the dot on the target but not the target unless they can also see infrared.

[@FDajam]

Genius 👍🏻 and u have a natural ability to explain easily. Pls keep it up

[@mrmuscolo11]

Only thing this channel is missing is about 20 mil subscribers, and a video every 10 minutes. Everything else is just about perfect

[@wallaguest1]

you clearly deserve more views.

[@chrischeek2963]

Well done. I really enjoy your videos. I laughed when you were removing the filter and said "it just pops right off", as it cracked in half...

[@QuintBUILDs]

Thanks 👍

[@Maybe-So]

Outstanding Video, fantastic presentation! Thank you for sharing!

[@stevenbingham3061]

If you're not a professional teacher, you should be!! Great video. Especially the initial description of visible vs. invisible light!!

[@EZ_shop]

Wow, loved the way you broke that down for us.

[@theclearsounds3911]

I used to work with fiber optic cables at work. I suggested that one way to see the light from an infrared laser transmitter without damaging your eyes is to look at it with your cell phone camera. It worked with my Samsung S4, but not with his iPhone 7. I think older phones don't have that lens filter that you removed. Great video!

[@QuintBUILDs]

Thanks. That was an S4 I took it out of. Every phone I've tried shows some IR when looking directly at the source, it just gets WAY brighter with the the filter removed. Of course depends on the exact wavelength used.

[@theclearsounds3911]

@@QuintBUILDs Right. This fiber optic transmitter was probably so close to visible light that the phone saw it even with the filter. Maybe iPhones have a more steep filter, because my friends iPhone showed a completely dark fiber. I should have noticed that your phone was an S4!

[@whitechris720]

Another awesome video. Keep them coming.

[@prakashsolanki2485]

Fantastic presentation bro

[@CA-TREES]

Quint. You are brilliant!

[@kennethamend8557]

Just found this platform...I watched your water battery video. This is so cool.

[@ghettomining7580]

I got to ask this. Is there a video made or coming up which showcases the wing suit your son is wearing at the end of this video? I hope so. Great content worth a sub Also side note I did this with a cheap webcam and fitted it up to a telescope the results are amazing

[@matthewadolph51]

I make crazy stuff most people don't understand but when I'm done they are blown away. This is a great video

[@Efferheim]

My camera system uses infrared lights at night, so I have infrared floodlights all around the house. It only looks dark at night, when it really is quite bright.

[@muffinsmuffins8074]

Keep up the good work

[@thesneakycrafter4152]

Hello Quint, I've just stumbled across your channel and I could not be more elated with what I've found. I'm currently trying to make a laser projection for a makeshift heads up display, however I'm having some trouble. Any information on how you made the laser projector with such great quality in this video would be a godsend!(What motors you used/if you used motors at all?)

[@TechInventorAman]

How do you edit your videos . I love the way you explain them !

[@egmontnicolas2160]

Simply brilliant ! 👍

[@BlueJDev]

I saw the ir in both views of the TV remote, but the top was obviously more visible. Did this to an old phone about 8 years ago and it worked great, got some awesome pictures of fireworks

[@AibassovM]

This is awesome. I never understood what ultra violet and infra red meant. But now I do. Thanks a lot 👍

[@kennethschultz6465]

This fix .. Did i on All SECURITAS PHONES So we culd see the ir sensors .. And ir traps..

[@jamaalbacon8474]

You are a modern day Mr. Wizard. That was my FAVORITE show when I was a kid. Do a quick google lol

[@PacoOtaktay]

Oh hey I loved this video. :) Have you thought about using the Raspberry Pi and its camera modules? There are two versions of their camera modules. One with the IR filter and one without the IR filter. :) Just an idea :D

[@QuintBUILDs]

didn't know that, thanks!

[@David_Ladd]

@@QuintBUILDs , another thing with the Raspberry Pi's is they are a good learning tool for kids as well. They are good ways to learn about Linux, Python, C, and other languages as well as the basics of GPIO pins and other control methods. Then if you combine µCU's like Arduino's you can get some really cool stuff built. :) There are so many cool things out there these days that isn't expensive that would have been back in the 80's when I was a kid wanting to learn about this stuff.

[@jpdunamislodge]

Cool Chanel 👍🏻 Thank you.

[@drohegda]

A lot of people know the colors of the Rainbow but if you want to remember the order large band to smallest is the name ""Roy G Biv"" take each letter from the beginning which is R for Red,O for Orange,Y for Yellow, G for Green,B for Blue, I for Indigo, and V for Violet. This will help your memory. Thank you for the Video.

[@mrtesla8633]

Very nice presentation

[@MuhsinunChowdhury]

The production quality of this video is great! I hope you get blessed by the KZbin algorithm soon!

[@PoisonStore]

Yes. Very nice. Its calm not rushing anything. Just great and informative video. Worth a sub.

[@johndoh4022]

Great concept for a reboot of "They Live"

[@wildwestunlimited]

Your work is worthy of a CRAP TON more subscribers and views!!!.... Me? I just subscribed and liked!

[@SigmaWorksSW3D]

great video!

[@kskrys]

WOW U ARE AMAZING

[@leolldankology]

I hope your kid got #1 in the science fair since you did his homework.

[@hughwilke5284]

That clearly isn't what happened, you dolt.

[@longleaf0]

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you're a ToT fan too :D

[@MatthewHolevinski]

who isn't ;)

[@ladasodaexplains3355]

I wish 5 years later when I actually work as an mechanical engineer, I could do some kool shit like this

[@nhatminhtran7917]

thanks for teaching me !

[@nhatminhtran7917]

great content !!!!!!

[@zerodegrees8]

Holy shit, it all makes sense now. Mind blown.

[@germimonte]

3:57, probably wrong, but it looks like Klingon to me :p

[@tanjiro3285]

that"s the kind of content world needs )(

[@jordonNegas101]

Your great good work 😄👍

[@MixedGoku]

Great video... I found this out looking at my security camera at night and a remote control . It looks like starwars

[@djblackarrow]

All smartphones or older cell phones with cameras that I had so far could easily make infrared light and invisible laser radiation visible without modification. But I know that there are smartphones that cannot because of the existing filters. If a remote control doesn't work, I always check the infrared diode with my smartphone camera first. The batteries in the remote control often have a poor connection due to dirty and/or corroded contacts or insufficient spring pressure. Both causes can be easily corrected.

[@QuintBUILDs]

Visible, yes. But I'm betting it was a dull glow you saw, not a bright light correct?

[@BARADAUSA69]

Nice tutorial fot theves, how to avoid houses with security cameras.

[@howlingcommandose]

Yep I'm still a star trek geek after all these years Ka'plA. Also were is a vid for the UV if possible.

[@StephanBuchin]

Almost any smartphone camera - except for the iPhone back sensor - can see infrared. Usually no need to remove any filter. We show this trick to customers so they can check the good working of their remote control without the necessity to send it back for repair.

[@brandonleesanders]

This guy needs his own TV science show. Bill Nye approves 👌🏽

[@Gamen4Bros]

Interesting!

[@condew6103]

A cheaper and more certain way to do this is with a Raspberry Pi and a Raspberry Pi "NOIR" camera. In the NOIR camera, the IR filter was left out during manufacture, so no need to remove it, no risk of breaking the camera or your phone. The Raspberry Pi also as utilities in the Raspbian operating system to allow you to take stills or video and program things like time lapse photography.

[@QuintBUILDs]

Good to know!

[@ieanenizedsalt3311]

Dear sir, might i suggest maybe adding a "what is infrared and ultra violet" to the title so it could fetch more views? I love your content. Im learning alot. :)

[@QuintBUILDs]

I'll try it, can't hurt. I'm about to release a new video (couple weeks?) that capitalizes on the same modified cell phone referring back to this video. That should help too.

[@AlienRelics]

You could also use a Raspberry Pi with an IR camera and screen. Lithium Ion cells to make it portable.

[@swp466]

On an iPhone, the selfie camera has no IR filter, so while IR sources don't appear to the regular iPhone camera, they do to the selfie camera.

[@FL-gg4dq]

Can you do a little video about your background . So many cool skills . Physics. Mechanical engineering. Just would like to know how you got so creative and smart!

[@QuintBUILDs]

Finally got to this on my 2nd channel BUILD2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/paKohGtsqp2YisU

[@thiagonascimento4988]

Very good

[@khalildaddyjoseph227]

The kids pretending to eat popcorn 😂😂

[@stuartpratt3662]

probaly had something going like a rerun of a show and was asked if that segment of video that they be quiet

[@zakariyamohamed9035]

2:32 creeping up we'd all do for science

[@louf7178]

I once stumbled across seeing the IR LED of a remote controller in a camera's view screen (Canon PowerShot G3).

[@sleeptyper]

Mmm, i have a good old light amplifier here somewhere. It's very sensitive to IR radiation.

[@2lefthands255]

Pls more about Ultraviolet

[@CreeperG3]

0:18: and... Whatever the hecc that is....

[@HolzMichel]

dude!...you just made burglars jobs a whole lot "safer" now they what houses to target.... additional safety supplied by Colt...subbed!

[@chriscalderin6677]

Exactly

[@Chastity_Belt]

Don't be so silly, professional burglars know all this things already. Or they live in prison now.

[@HolzMichel]

@@Chastity_Belt learn to recognize hyperbole....

[@chriscalderin6677]

@@Chastity_Belt not all are professional so why help them? I have known about this but I keep it to myself

[@danstoisor4563]

this is the kind of person i want to be friends with, doing experiment by myself is long and hard without a basic understanding of science and no experience with cad and 3d printers

[@reiisthebestgirl]

And you can keep a layer or two of undeveloped photographic film in front of the lens to block visible light and take some dope photos.

[@QuintBUILDs]

sounds cool! Don't know if a phone camera has a fast enough lens. Gosh, I don't even have any old film lying around!

[@theclearsounds3911]

If anybody gets the idea of trying to decode infrared remote control codes with a cell phone, it won't work. The codes are a much higher frequency than the frame rate on your phone. Hook up the IR LED in the remote control to an oscilloscope or logic analyzer, and that will work! Or, an IR receiver hooked to a oscilloscope will do the same thing, as long as your lighting won't interfere.

[@PatrickHoodDaniel]

You need a special camera to determine what the kids are eating because I can't see it!

[@QuintBUILDs]

LOL, 2nd person to catch that! 👍

[@PatrickHoodDaniel]

@@QuintBUILDs Ha!! By the way, keep doing these videos! Your teaching method is far too important to be wasted. You have a great gift.

[@shaneintegra]

Criminals are going to love this lol

[@a.i.z5342]

Yes..our neighbourhood's in danger right now..lmao

[@mitchellfolbe8729]

enlightening entertainment

[@superuele]

I know that because I use to check if my remote is working or not in this way. Unfortunately not every mobile has that filter, for example my iPhone 7 hasn’t

[@anything7441]

Incandescent bulbs have better eye relief than the new energy bulbs

[@davidpeterson9321]

Do you have, or know of a way of measuring laser wavelength timing?.. if I am even asking that question correctly...

[@skyjoe55]

I cant seem to find your laser video? Is it on a different channel?

[@muniraahmed9437]

Must be really cool for the kids to have a scientist dad at home

[@ArielBaravalle]

please, make a video of your laser proyector. thanks

[@ucitymetalhead]

I need a cheap camera to try this out on I always thought it was cool how I could see ir even without modifications.

[@condew6103]

Check out the Raspberry Pi and the "NOIR" camera available for it. Or a security camera with night vision.

[@williamthebutcherssonprodu227]

I’m getting stormworks vibes from the music

[@Dr.K.Wette_BE]

What can it be used for ? Making pranks of course ! 😁

[@fredleonard1547]

What about the uv filter, what we see then??

[@TecSanento]

Could you use this to make a thermal imaging camera?

[@QuintBUILDs]

Thermal imaging requires different doping of the camera sensor to make it sensitive to longer wavelengths. Also the lens material has to change as glass won't pass thermal. Look into it, it's fascinating!

[@Sprengi86]

I see a 'Pegh Ngoq'. I instantly knew the language, but that handwriting sure is sloppy.

[@mj2068]

where did it show pegh ngoq?

[@abelincoln7473]

Frikkin paranoid world, Cameras everywhere. At least IR cameras are easy to defeat.

[@Anonymous-jm3mg]

I see this as a hardware hack. My question is, is there a software hack that will recognize the filters and be able to switch between filtered and nonfiltered? The old Sony Handycam had a lever that mechanically slid the filters in and out of place, i believe. I removed the filter on my old Motorola razer flip but the filter was very difficult to remove from the lenses and I ruined the first camera that I tried this on because I cracked the lens trying to separate the filter from the lens. My second attempt was successful and this video is truthful and I could see the ultraviolet lights.

[@stuartpratt3662]

with the more advanced (and much more expensive) sensors i am sure you could do software filtering but most low grade and cheap stuff sticks (and this is a general rule of thumb as it is most likely manufactured in china or some secondary cheap location) to using hardware to filter unwanted wavelengths of light

[@DecoD71]

So does the light from your remote damage your eyes? Even though we cant pick it up?

[@QuintBUILDs]

There are lasers of that wavelength powerful enough to cut, but the TV remotes shouldn't be powerful enough to do anything to your eye. That said, even "eye safe" devices like laser pointers can blind you. Plenty of examples online. But that's entirely different than a little LED.

[@4n2earth22]

dell wone! Thanks

[@ioonerbe]

4:53 Where can i find these videos ?

[@cody181818]

So if i remove the glass layer on a cell phone i will be able to see infared through it?. I have a ton of old junker cell phones i would love to try this with. And i am tech savy enough to get them back together as well lol ;)

[@condew6103]

Often the filter is glued inside a housing that is glued to the circuit board such that it's really hard to remove it without damaging the circuit board. Better bet might be a Raspberry Pi and it's companion NOIR camera, or a security camera with IR night vision. But hey, if the phone really is junk, give it a try; don't know much an old phone is good for other than this anyway.

[@CiedJacaba]

I have to sub to this...

[@lochinvar00465]

My phone already sees IR. I use it to check remotes.

[@samad934]

Why didn't i find your channels earlier....

[@kennethschultz6465]

Greetings From Denmark 🇩 🇰 🇩🇰 🖖 ....

[@bentboybbz]

Man your neighborhood is paranoid as heck.