Hackers are selling private camera footage from Vietnamese homes, shops, hotels, and massage parlors on Telegram.
Security researcher Minh Hung was offered three different payment plans to access the footage on an invite-only Telegram group, Vietnamese online newspaper VnExpress reported on Dec. 16. The most expensive plan costs about $32.84 and includes live access to hacked camera feeds.
“Our software constantly scans localities across the country. Most of the cameras are located in the corners of bedrooms, bathrooms, dressing rooms, toilets, hotels, clothing shops, massage parlors,” the hacking group reportedly said on Telegram.
It’s not uncommon for hackers to target devices like surveillance cameras. In July, NordVPN revealed that a site was illegally streaming up to 1,600 security camera feeds from American homes.
Pricing Plans for Hacked Camera Footage
Stolen data, like credentials and hacked camera footage, are usually found on dark web marketplaces. However, cybercriminals are increasingly turning to encrypted messaging apps like Telegram to trade in illegal items amid a widespread crackdown on cybercrime hubs on the dark web.
While stolen camera footages are often sold or leaked online, the use of pricing plans sets this group apart.
According to Hung, the cheapest plan, priced at $6.15, gives users access to thousands of “low quality” hacked camera footage. And the mid-tier plan, which costs around $20.51, gives users access to a daily updated trove of “high-quality” camera footage. Besides live footage, the most expensive plan includes hacked footage from the past four years.
After picking the most expensive plan, Hung was directed to download an app and scan a QR code to see live camera footage from different locations. According to Hung, the timestamp of one camera footage matched the time and date he was watching it, indicating it was indeed live.
The identity of the hackers behind this exploit is unclear. On Telegram, the group advertised itself as “specializing in hacking private cameras of families and shops in Vietnam.”
How to Protect Your Private Camera Footage
It is crucial to be aware of the risks surrounding surveillance cameras, such as camfecting attacks.
A cybersecurity expert told VnExpress that it’s easy to hack surveillance cameras as many people use weak passwords or keep the same passwords set up by the technicians. Hackers can also exploit software vulnerabilities to breach surveillance cameras.
To protect your camera from getting hacked, we recommend:
- Using top-rated camera brands that are well known or have been reviewed extensively
- Reading your device documentation thoroughly before using it
- Using a secure password for your camera, ideally, one that’s long and randomized
- Avoid placing cameras in private places, such as your bedroom or children’s room
- Placing a lens cap or piece of tape on your cameras and unplugging your microphones when you do not explicitly need them to be filming
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