South Korea Police Arrest Four After Hacking 120,000 Home Security Cameras

South Korean police have arrested four individuals believed to have hacked more than 120,000 internet-connected security cameras installed in private homes and businesses. According to investigators, the suspects exploited weak security — many cameras used default or easily guessable passwords — to gain unauthorized access. Once they broke in, they captured video footage from those cameras and used it to create sexually exploitative content. That footage was then sold on an overseas pornography website.

Authorities say this is among the largest cases of camera hacking in South Korea’s history. Two of the suspects alone accessed tens of thousands of cameras and produced hundreds of illicit videos. One suspect reportedly hacked about 63,000 cameras, generating hundreds of clips, while another is accused of breaching roughly 70,000 cameras. Their content is believed to have constituted a substantial portion of all uploads to the illegal site last year.

Two other arrested suspects had also hacked cameras — one with thousands of devices compromised, and the other with over a hundred — though there’s indication they had not yet distributed or sold the footage. The government is now working with foreign law-enforcement agencies to track down the operators of the overseas site and dismantle their network. Several individuals who reportedly purchased or viewed the illicit videos have also been detained.

Police have begun notifying affected users: they reached out to dozens of households and businesses whose cameras were potentially compromised to advise them on securing their systems. Victims are being offered support including guidance to reset passwords, assistance with removing or blocking illegally obtained footage, and access to victim-support resources. Authorities also pledged strict action against anyone distributing, viewing, or possessing such unlawfully obtained videos.

Officials emphasize that this breach underscores the serious risks posed by poorly secured connected devices. They urge all owners of IP-based surveillance cameras to use strong, unique passwords, disable remote access when possible, and keep firmware up to date — steps seen as essential to protecting privacy and preventing misuse.