Hackers exploit software vulnerability to hijack LED screens in Malaysia and Egypt

A hacking collective operating under the name ‘Leakers$’ has claimed responsibility for a series of cyberattacks targeting public LED display systems in multiple countries, including Malaysia and Egypt. The group revealed that the breaches were made possible by exploiting a widespread software vulnerability used to transmit content to digital billboards.

In Kluang, Johor, Malaysia, eight LED screens operated by the Kluang Municipal Council (MPK) were hacked on October 29 to display sexually explicit videos and obscene images. The council immediately switched off the affected screens, which were located in areas such as Dataran Tasik Kluang and Taman Intan, and has launched a police investigation. MPK is working with the system supplier to identify the breach method and improve security.

A similar incident occurred in Giza, Egypt, where a massive electronic billboard along the 26 July Corridor was hijacked to broadcast explicit footage. The hackers stated they used automated scanning tools over a two-hour period to identify thousands of exposed commercial systems globally that lacked basic online protection. The group claimed the vulnerability affects systems in several other nations, including Brazil and China.