Sickos hack 120K home security cameras in South Korea, sell off sexually explicit footage

Police in South Korea have arrested four individuals in connection with the hacking of 120,000 home security cameras. The hackers were found to have sold sexually explicit footage and created exploitative content involving children, according to the National Police Agency.

This incident is part of a global trend targeting internet protocol cameras, commonly used in households to monitor children and pets, as well as in various businesses and facilities.

Aside from the hacking charges, three suspects are also facing allegations of producing or selling sexually explicit material, as stated by Kim Young-woon, head of the National Police Agency’s Cyber Terror Investigation Unit.

Reports indicate that one suspect received approximately $24,000 in virtual assets for the stolen footage, while another was paid around $12,000. Another suspect faces charges related to producing sexually exploitative content of children and adolescents, which was stored but not sold. The fourth individual was released following their arrest.

Authorities have confirmed that the hackers operated independently and did not collaborate on their activities.

For nearly a decade, South Korean officials have been combatting the pervasive use of hidden cameras, known as “molka,” in public bathrooms, swimming pools, and hotels.

Footage obtained from these locations is often altered to create explicit content involving young women, which is then distributed online.

Between 2011 and 2022, South Korean law enforcement made close to 50,000 arrests in connection with the use of hidden cameras for producing explicit material.

Authorities have not disclosed the manufacturers of the compromised security cameras in this case.

An investigation is underway into the website where the illicit footage was sold and the individuals who viewed the videos.

Internet-connected cameras have gained popularity worldwide as a means for homeowners to monitor their loved ones and properties. However, these devices are susceptible to hacking due to data transmission over IP networks connected to home WiFi systems.

Furthermore, many of these cameras come with default passwords that are often left unchanged by users, making them easy targets for hackers.

Last year, the US Federal Trade Commission imposed a fine of approximately $3 million on Verkada, a security camera company, after a hacker accessed footage from 150,000 cameras, including those in hospitals, prison cells, and Sandy Hook Elementary School.

In China, tens of thousands of cameras have been compromised, and the stolen footage has been sold on social media platforms.

Groups supported by Iran have attempted to utilize these cameras for espionage purposes, prompting Israeli authorities to advise residents to update their passwords and software.

South Korean authorities have warned residents that much of the hacked footage has been shared on Chinese websites and have cautioned against using security cameras from overseas that may not meet local regulations.

The Science Ministry in South Korea is currently reviewing proposed regulations that would require home cameras to have unique and complex passwords set by the owner before they can be operational.