Hackers hijacked LED screens worldwide to broadcast explicit content, exposing security flaws in digital signage systems.
Pirates hijack LED screens globally
On July 26, drivers in Giza, Egypt, noticed a giant LED screen displaying a pornographic video broadcast by hackers. The attackers claimed to have taken control of similar screens in countries ranging from Malaysia to Brazil. Hackers leave digital clues
The video included four pseudonyms and a link to a Telegram channel named Leakers$. In Malaysia, authorities shut down affected screens after a man reported receiving screenshots of the incident via WhatsApp. Brazilian company responds
In Brazil, a company in Campo Maior turned off its LED screen after it was hijacked and displayed the video. The firm filed a complaint and apologized to the local community for the disruption. Claimed attacks in Iraq and China
The group said it had also hacked screens in Iraq and China, but these claims have not been independently confirmed. A representative of the group told the Egyptian news site The Cairo Report that they exploited a vulnerability in the software used for LED screen broadcasting. Vulnerability in broadcasting software
The hackers used a flaw in the software that sends videos to LED screens, allowing them to access thousands of systems through simple web pages without any security measures, according to the group’s representative. Lack of basic security
The representative criticized companies for spending millions on infrastructure while leaving their advertising screens connected to the internet without basic protection. The group also claimed that such attacks do not require advanced skills. Security recommendations
The American association of advertisers OAAA advises its members to never accept default passwords from screen manufacturers. Similar advice is given in France, where individuals are urged to change default passwords for all connected devices. Amateur hackers also exploit weaknesses
In Morocco, three teenagers were arrested in 2025 for hacking screens at a laboratory and hotel to show content deemed inappropriate. These cases highlight how poorly protected screens attract both professional and amateur hackers. Giza screen linked to Egyptian intelligence
The Giza screen involved in the attack belongs to Al Arabia United, an agency linked to Egyptian intelligence services. The agency partnered with an unnamed international company, and the hackers broadcast the video after attacking the service provider’s website. Legal actions and investigations
Egypt’s Ministry of Interior has launched legal proceedings, and the service provider has suspended its broadcasts. Al Arabia United says it detected unauthorized access to one of its screens and has turned it off as a precaution while cooperating with authorities. Political message from hackers
The administrators of Leakers$ posted a political message on their Telegram channel the day after the attack, criticizing the Egyptian government for its alleged authoritarian rule and repression.
