507/68 Thursday, December 4, 2025
South Korean police have arrested four individuals accused of hacking more than 120,000 internet-connected IP cameras across the country, including cameras installed in private residences and commercial buildings. The group allegedly stole live footage and recorded videos of victims’ private activities and sold the content to pornographic websites hosted abroad in exchange for high-value digital assets. Authorities described the case as a major cybercrime and a severe invasion of privacy that has affected a large number of victims.
Investigators found that the suspects carried out extensive intrusion operations, with two key offenders responsible for 62% of the illegal content uploaded to the website over the past year. The material included general voyeuristic recordings and content involving minors. Police have already arrested three buyers of the illicit content and are collaborating with international agencies to shut down the websites and prosecute the operators. Authorities emphasized that they will enforce strict penalties against individuals who possess or view sexually explicit material obtained through criminal activity, to prevent further harm to victims.
Regarding remediation and prevention, officials have begun notifying identified victims and affected locations to remove the content and secure their systems. For general users of similar devices, authorities recommend immediately reviewing the security of IP cameras by replacing default passwords with strong, unique credentials, keeping firmware up to date to address vulnerabilities, and disabling remote access if it is not needed. These measures can significantly reduce the risk of similar intrusions.
