Covert spy cameras are CCTV cameras disguised in a variety of housings, from a non-functional smoke detector to a fully functional clock radio to an artwork hung on the wall. Covert cameras otherwise known as spy or hidden cameras have become more and more popular in recent years. Some of this sudden popularity is due as a result of some highly publicized cases of children abuse by babysitters that were uncovered by the use of hidden camera. Other reasons might be related to the lowering cost of manufacturing such cameras, which has made them more affordable in the market. In most application covert cameras are used as standalone units connected directly to a security time lapse recorder or digital video recorder (DVR).