Hackers Who Hijacked LED Billboards Across Multiple Countries Reveal Their Motive

On 29 October 2026, explicit footage appeared on a large electronic billboard along the 26 July Corridor in Giza, Egypt — a busy route overlooking major traffic — as well as on public LED screens in Kluang, Johor, Malaysia, and on displays in other countries including Brazil and China. Videos spread rapidly online, prompting Egyptian authorities to suspend advertising displays and open a formal investigation. The billboard in Giza is operated by Arabian United, an Egyptian-Saudi joint venture involving United Media Services, a media group linked to Egypt's General Intelligence Service, and Saudi-listed Arabian Contracting Services Co.

The hacking collective behind the incident, operating under the Telegram channel Leakers$, subsequently explained their actions to The Cairo Report. A group representative said the attack exploited a genuine software vulnerability in the systems used to transmit content to LED displays, and that no country was targeted individually. Using automated scanning tools over roughly two hours, the group identified thousands of exposed commercial systems globally that lacked basic online protection.

The group stated its goal was to highlight severe security failures, not to demand ransom or carry out ransomware attacks. "Companies charge millions to build infrastructure across multiple countries and leave LED screens and billboard networks wide open on the internet without basic protection," the representative told The Cairo Report.

Egypt's Interior Ministry had previously attributed the incident to the hacking of an unnamed international advertising company's website, noting that identical footage appeared across screens in multiple countries at the same time. Arabian United shut down the affected screen and pledged cooperation with authorities.