120,000 Home Cameras Were Hacked for Sexual Videos, South Korean Police Say

Summary

South Korean police arrested four individuals in connection with a large-scale hacking operation that compromised over 120,000 home cameras and used the footage to produce sexual videos.

Context

Authorities announced the arrests as part of ongoing efforts to curb exploitative recordings and online distribution of such material.
The suspects allegedly exploited weak default passwords and other simple vulnerabilities to access numerous IP cameras in homes and offices.

Details

The operation involved recording intimate footage from compromised cameras and uploading or selling it on foreign platforms.
Law enforcement conducted outreach to victims, visiting addresses and advising on password changes and security improvements.
Investigators described the case as a severe invasion of privacy with lasting harm to victims, and pledged ongoing efforts to prosecute and disrupt similar activity.

Official Statements

Police spokesman and national security officials emphasized strong action against those who monetize non-consensual recordings and stressed collaboration with international partners.

Public Response

The incident has raised concerns about the security of consumer IoT devices and the need for better default credentials and user vigilance.

Implications

This case highlights the risk of routinely using defaut passwords on smart devices and the potential for widespread privacy violations when devices are poorly secured.

Quotes

“The suspects used weak passwords and readily available default credentials to access cameras.”
“Victims were subjected to invasive recordings and exploitation.”

Авторское резюме: Расследование показывает критическую важность усиления базовой защиты IoT‑устройств и срочных мер по остановке монетизации незаконного видеоконтента, возникающих из komprometirovannyh камер.

The New York Times — 2025-12-02