USB spy cameras are great for those with an inner James Bond that is just itching for action or those who want to surreptitiously record conversations and events without the consent of another party. These recording may or may not be admissible in a court of law, but they can often be used as leverage. Using such recordings as leverage may, however, constitute a crime in and of itself, so be wary about doing so. Of course, James Bond never really seemed to worry about those kinds of technicalities, but then again he is a fictional character and tends to kill just about anyone and everyone around him.

Assuming that the reader is not a real MI-6 agent, there are plenty of consumer and even commercial grade USB spy cameras available. Before proceeding to detail some of the models, it may help to define exactly why a USB spy camera is as the name itself may leave some doubt about how a USB spy camera would function.

A USB spy camera is a discrete surveillance device that is designed to mimic the appearance of an ordinary object. The ordinary object can be anything from a fully functional alarm clock to a USB memory storage device. Whatever form the USB spy camera emulates, it will have a camera and potentially even a microphone to capture all that happens in a given area. Some USB spy cameras can even record in low light situations, but one should expect to pay a premium for these more upscale USB spy cameras.

The term USB enters into the equation when one wants to view the footage. USB spy cameras have a concealed USB port or micro-USB port that allows users to remove the footage from the USB spy camera to their desktop computer or laptop. Typically no special software is required to perform the removal of images, so those with NAS (Network Attached Storage) boxes or other devices that can auto copy/wipe a USB device can generally be used; as far as the computer or device one plugs their USB spy camera into is concerned, the device is nothing more than a regular memory stick and possibly a webcam as well.

There are many specialty stores selling USB spy cameras as well as novelty shops, but the best places to buy a quality USB spy camera are usually found online. Because there is only a limited market for covert surveillance equipment, savvy business owners and proprietors have expanded their surveillance equipment storefronts via the internet to a national and even international market.

It is worth noting that USB spy cameras can be a little expensive and a quality USB spy camera can cost upwards of $100. When it comes time to make an investment of $100 or more just ask: What would James Bond do?