Hacker group 'Leakers' reveals motive behind hacking of Kluang LED billboard

KUALA LUMPUR: A hacker group calling itself 'Leakers' has revealed its motive for hacking LED screens in Kluang, Johor, which resulted in an obscene video being broadcast on the screen two days ago.

The group claimed that its attacks had also targeted several other countries, including Egypt, Iraq, Brazil and China.

According to news portal The Cairo Report, a representative of the group claimed that its members had exploited vulnerabilities in software used to transfer content to LED displays, although advertising billboards were not their specific targets.

The group said the compromised software contained several security flaws, some of which could be exploited through the system's own webpages and interfaces.

The group added that it had identified vulnerable systems through automated scanning rather than deliberately targeting specific companies or countries before taking control of the affected billboards.

It reportedly identified thousands of vulnerable systems within two hours.

The group claimed that the attacks were intended to expose security vulnerabilities rather than extort money or distribute ransomware.

"Companies charge millions of ringgit to build infrastructure across various countries, yet leave LED screens and billboard networks exposed on the internet without even basic protection.

"We are not here to lecture anyone, ask for donations or act like a ransomware group, but to expose these vulnerabilities and prove that anyone can take control of screens across your country in real time.

"Mainstream media love to claim that this is a highly sophisticated, state-sponsored cyberattack. The reality is that your infrastructure is embarrassing, regardless of where you are on the map."

Police have opened two investigation papers following reports of the incident, in which an obscene video was displayed on an LED screen in Kluang.

District police chief Assistant Commissioner Bahrin Mohd Noh said police received a report from a 42-year-old man, who claimed to have received a WhatsApp message about the incident.

The case is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Computer Crimes Act and Section 292 of the Penal Code.

Earlier, the Kluang Municipal Council confirmed that its LED display system had been hacked, resulting in an obscene video being broadcast on the screen.