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

Four people have been arrested over the hacking of 120,000 home security cameras in South Korea and the sale of sexually explicit footage, as well as creating exploitative content of children, the country’s National Police Agency said Monday.

The hack is the latest in a global trend targeting internet protocol cameras, which are often used in homes to keep an eye on children and pets, as well as in businesses, hospitals and saunas.

Along with violating laws against hacking, three suspects who remain in custody face additional charges of creating or selling sexually explicit material, according to Kim Young-woon, head of the National Police Agency’s Cyber Terror Investigation Unit.

One of the sickos was allegedly paid about $24,000 worth of virtual assets for the stolen footage, while another was reportedly paid about $12,000.

A third creep was charged with producing sexually exploitative content of children and adolescents that was stored, not sold. The fourth suspect was released after being arrested.

The hackers did not work together, authorities said.

South Korean officials have been fighting for nearly a decade to crack down on the widespread use of hidden cameras, known as “molka,” at public bathrooms, swimming pools and hotels.

Hacked footage from these spaces is often manipulated to create sexually explicit content of young women and then sold online.

From 2011 to 2022, South Korean police made nearly 50,000 arrests over the use of such cameras to create explicit material.

Authorities did not disclose the manufacturers of the hacked security cameras in Monday’s case. 

The website where the footage was sold and those who viewed the videos are also under investigation, according to officials.

Around the world, internet-connected cameras have become a popular way for homeowners to keep an eye on their kids and pets, thanks to the devices’ relatively cheap price tags. 

But the cameras devices are vulnerable to hacks because data is transferred over IP networks connected to home WiFi systems.

These cameras also typically arrive set with simple default passwords that many owners don’t bother to change.

Last year, the US Federal Trade Commission fined a security camera firm, Verkada, about $3 million after a hacker swiped footage from 150,000 cameras including those of hospitals, prison cells and even Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

In China, tens of thousands of cameras have been hacked and the video footage has been sold on social media.

Groups backed by Iran have attempted to use the cameras as spyware, prompting Israeli authorities to urge residents to change their passwords and install software updates.

Last year, South Korean officials said much of the hacked footage has been shared on Chinese websites.

It warned residents about the use of security cameras from overseas, arguing they likely do not meet local regulatory requirements.

The nation’s Science Ministry said Tuesday it was reviewing proposed new regulations to block home cameras from working unless the owner sets an original, complex password.