Police announced on Sunday the arrests of four people in South Korea who allegedly breached more than 120,000 video cameras located in private homes and various businesses. The individuals are accused of using the compromised footage to create sexually exploitative materials, which were then distributed through an overseas website. Authorities explained that the accused exploited common security weaknesses in the cameras, such as the use of simple or default passwords, to gain unauthorized access.
IP cameras, often referred to as home cameras, are a less expensive alternative to traditional CCTV and are typically installed for security or to remotely monitor family members or pets via a home internet network. The locations of the cameras that were reportedly hacked across the country included sensitive areas such as private residences, karaoke rooms, a pilates studio, and even a gynecologist’s clinic. This wide array of locations highlights the pervasive vulnerability exploited by the suspects.
A statement released by South Korea’s National Police Agency clarified that the four arrested suspects operated independently and did not collaborate or conspire together in their hacking activities. One of the suspects is specifically accused of hacking into 63,000 cameras and producing 545 sexually exploitative videos, which he then sold for virtual assets valued at 35 million won, roughly $26,200 US. Separately, another suspect allegedly hacked 70,000 cameras, selling 648 videos for 18 million won worth of assets.
The two most prolific suspects accounted for approximately 62% of the total videos posted over the last year on the specific website that illegally distributed the IP camera hacking footage. In response, police are now actively working to block and shut down that distribution website and are cooperating with foreign agencies to investigate its operator. Furthermore, three additional individuals have been arrested on suspicion of having purchased and viewed the material through the illicit site.
Park Woo-hyun, a cyber investigation chief at the National Police Agency, emphasized the seriousness of the crimes, stating that “IP camera hacking and illegal filming inflict immense suffering on victims and are therefore serious offences. We will eradicate them through vigorous investigations.” Authorities have personally visited or notified victims at 58 locations, informing them of the incident, providing guidance on how to change their passwords, and assisting with the deletion and blocking of content. The National Police Agency stressed the need for individual users to “remain vigilant and immediately and regularly change their access passwords” as the most crucial and effective preventive measure.
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