In South Korea, hackers are arrested for hacking more than 120,000 home cameras.

According to ТСН: In South Korea, four individuals were arrested on suspicion of hacking over 120,000 home and commercial video cameras. The offenders used the footage to create sexually exploitative content for a foreign website.

The police reported the arrests, noting that the hackers exploited vulnerabilities in IP cameras, particularly simple passwords.

Details of the crime

IP cameras, also known as home cameras, are an accessible alternative to surveillance systems. They connect to the Internet and are often used for home security monitoring, as well as keeping an eye on children and pets.

Among the locations where the hacks occurred are private apartments, karaoke rooms, a Pilates studio, and a gynecological clinic.

According to the National Police Agency of South Korea, all suspects acted independently, not coordinating their actions. One of them hacked 63,000 cameras and created 545 sexually explicit videos, which he sold for 35 million won (approximately 1 million 8 thousand hryvnias) in the form of digital assets. Another suspect hacked around 70,000 cameras and sold 648 videos for 18 million won (518,677 hryvnias).

These two suspects are estimated by the police to be responsible for 62% of the videos posted over the year on a site that illegally disseminated content from hacked IP cameras.

Actions of law enforcement

Law enforcement has already begun blocking and shutting down this resource, cooperating with foreign services to identify the operator. Three other individuals have also been arrested on suspicion of purchasing and viewing materials on the site.

“Hacking IP cameras and illegal recording causes immense suffering to victims and constitutes serious crimes. We will eradicate them through decisive investigations. Viewing and storing illegally recorded videos is also a serious crime, so we will actively investigate such cases,” emphasized the head of cyber investigations at the National Police Agency, Park Woo-hyun.

Law enforcement visited or notified victims in 58 locations, informing them about the incident and recommending that they change their passwords. They are also assisting in removing and blocking explicit content and continue to identify potential other victims.

“First and foremost, it is extremely important and effective for users who have installed IP cameras at home or at work to remain vigilant and immediately and regularly change their access passwords,” stated the National Police Agency.

Additionally, it has come to light that a 29-year-old resident of Mykolaiv in Lviv region organized a blackmail scheme, arranging intimate meetings with men in rented apartments where they were secretly filmed.

This case raises serious concerns in society regarding the safety of using modern technologies. Law enforcement intends to raise awareness among the population about the dangers that can arise from improper use of digital cameras. To prevent similar situations, it is important for users to follow safety recommendations.