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Hackers hijack Egypt highway billboard and Malaysian screens to show porn

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Egyptian officials initially blamed the incident on the compromise of an international advertising firm's website after identical explicit footage surfaced simultaneously on screens worldwide. However, the hackers disputed that explanation, claiming they directly exploited software vulnerabilities that control digital LED displays. They asserted that automated scans uncovered thousands of unprotected advertising networks across Malaysia, Brazil, China, and Iraq within two hours due to a complete lack of basic internet protections.

Key points

  • The hackers stated their primary motivation was demonstrating severe cybersecurity vulner…: The hackers stated their primary motivation was demonstrating severe cybersecurity vulnerabilities rather than demanding financial ransoms from operators.
  • Egyptian authorities suspended local highway advertising displays while opening an invest…: Egyptian authorities suspended local highway advertising displays while opening an investigation into the multi-nation digital breach.
  • Technical evidence to independently verify whether the attack targeted an advertising web…: Technical evidence to independently verify whether the attack targeted an advertising website or exploited LED transmission software remains unconfirmed.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

A hacking group claiming responsibility for displaying pornographic footage on a roadside billboard in Egypt told The Cairo Report that it exploited a software vulnerability affecting digital advertising screens in several countries, exposing what it described as widespread security failures in commercially operated infrastructure.

The group, which operates a Telegram channel called ‘Leakers$’, said its members discovered thousands of exposed systems through an automated scan lasting approximately two hours, during which it identified Iraq, Malaysia, Brazil, and China among the countries where it said it gained access to display systems.

The account follows an incident Thursday, Oct. 29, when sexually explicit footage appeared on a large electronic billboard overlooking one of the busiest highways in the country, the 26 July Corridor in Giza, which connects Cairo with its western suburbs.

Videos circulated on social media showed the footage playing on the screen, prompting authorities to suspend advertising displays along the road and open an investigation.

The affected billboard is operated by Arabian United, an Egyptian-Saudi advertising venture established by United Media Services (UMS), Egypt’s intelligence-linked media conglomerate, and Saudi-listed Arabian…

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