https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj01q6p7ndlo Skip to content Watch Live * Home * News * Sport * Business * Innovation * Culture * Arts * Travel * Earth * Audio * Video * Live * Documentaries * Home * News + Israel-Gaza War + War in Ukraine + US & Canada + UK o UK Politics o England o N. Ireland # N. Ireland Politics o Scotland # Scotland Politics o Wales # Wales Politics + Africa + Asia o China o India + Australia + Europe + Latin America + Middle East + In Pictures + BBC InDepth + BBC Verify * Sport * Business + Executive Lounge + Technology of Business + Future of Business * Innovation + Watch Documentaries + Technology + Science & Health + Artificial Intelligence + AI v the Mind * Culture + Watch Documentaries + Film & TV + Music + Art & Design + Style + Books + Entertainment News * Arts + Watch Documentaries + Arts in Motion * Travel + Watch Documentaries + Destinations o Africa o Antarctica o Asia o Australia and Pacific o Caribbean & Bermuda o Central America o Europe o Middle East o North America o South America + World's Table + Culture & Experiences + Adventures + The SpeciaList * Earth + Watch Documentaries + Natural Wonders + Weather & Science + Climate Solutions + Sustainable Business + Green Living * Audio + Podcast Categories + Radio + Audio FAQs * Video + Watch Documentaries + BBC Maestro * Live + Live News + Live Sport * Documentaries [ ] Home News Sport Business Innovation Culture Arts Travel Earth Audio Video Live Documentaries Weather Newsletters Watch Live Over 120,000 home cameras hacked in South Korea for 'sexploitation' footage 2 days ago ShareSave Gavin Butler ShareSave [grey-place]Getty Images A small white home camera sits on a wooden countertop, with blue curtains in the backgroundGetty Images Internet Protocol or "home cams" are often installed for security purposes or to monitor the safety of children and pets Four people have been arrested in South Korea for allegedly hacking more than 120,000 video cameras in homes and businesses and using the footage to make sexually exploitative materials for an overseas website. Police announced the arrests on Sunday, saying the accused exploited the Internet Protocol (IP) cameras' vulnerabilities, such as simple passwords. A cheaper alternative to CCTV, IP cameras - otherwise known as home cameras - connect to a home internet network and are often installed for security or to monitor the safety of children and pets. Locations of cameras hacked in the country reportedly included private homes, karaoke rooms, a pilates studio and a gynaecologist's clinic. A statement released by South Korea's National Police Agency revealed that the four suspects operated independently of one another, and did not conspire together. One of the suspects is accused of hacking 63,000 cameras and producing 545 sexually exploitative videos, which he then sold for 35 million won ($12,235; PS9,250) worth of virtual assets. Another allegedly hacked 70,000 cameras and sold 648 videos for 18 million won worth of assets. The two suspects were responsible for approximately 62% of videos posted in the past year on a website that illegally distributed IP camera hacking footage. Police are now moving to block and shut down that website, and cooperating with foreign agencies to investigate its operator. They have also arrested three people who are suspected of having bought and viewed material through the site. "IP camera hacking and illegal filming inflict immense suffering on victims and are therefore serious offences. We will eradicate them through vigorous investigations," said Park Woo-hyun, a cyber investigation chief at the National Police Agency. "Viewing and possessing illegally filmed videos are also serious crimes, so we will actively investigate them." Authorities have personally visited or notified victims at 58 locations, informing them of the incident and providing guidance on changing passwords. They are also helping victims delete and block content, and working to identify others who may have been affected. "Above all, it is crucial and effective for individual users who have installed IP cameras in homes or business premises to remain vigilant and immediately and regularly change their access passwords," the National Police Agency said in its statement. Additional reporting by Leehyun Choi [grey-place]A green promotional banner with black squares and rectangles forming pixels, moving in from the right. The text says: "Tech Decoded: The world's biggest tech news in your inbox every Monday." Sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter to follow the world's top tech stories and trends. Outside the UK? Sign up here. 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South Korea's 'TV dad' Lee Soon-jae dies at 91 Lee became a beloved household name for his famous roles in films and on TV for nearly 70 years. 8 days ago 24 Nov 2025 [grey-place]A composite image showing the left, centre and right profiles of Kim Nok-wan, who is seen wearing a black T-shirt and a puffy black coat S Korea's most prolific online sex criminal sentenced to life in prison "Pastor" Kim Nok-wan, 33, ran a cybersex ring that exploited hundreds of victims including minors. 24 Nov 2025 20 Nov 2025 [grey-place]KPop Demon Hunters Weekly quiz: Why was KPop Demon Hunters banned by a school? 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