Four people have been arrested in South Korea for allegedly hacking into more than 120,000 video cameras in homes and businesses to create sexual content for a foreign website.
Police announced the arrests, saying the accused exploited vulnerabilities in the IP cameras, such as simple passwords.
IP cameras, also known as home cameras, are a cheaper alternative to CCTV. They are connected to the Internet and are usually installed for security or monitoring of children and animals.
Law enforcement officials said the cameras were hacked into private homes, karaoke rooms, a Pilates studio and a gynaecology clinic.
A statement released by South Korea’s National Police Agency said the four suspects acted independently and did not conspire.
One “Viewing and possessing illegally filmed videos is also a serious offence, so we will actively investigate them.”
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Authorities have personally visited and notified victims at 58 locations, providing them with advice on how to change their passwords.
They have also helped victims remove and block content and are working to identify others who may have been affected.
“Above all, it is imperative that individual users who have installed IP cameras in homes or commercial premises remain vigilant and change their access passwords immediately and regularly,” police said in a statement.