Technology June 15: Da Nang police warn about camera hacking and blackmail

Warning about hacking surveillance cameras for blackmail

The Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department of Da Nang City Police issued a warning about tricks and ways to identify when a family's camera system has been illegally hacked.

Accordingly, some signs that help users recognize that the camera has been hacked include: The camera makes strange sounds even though no one is using it, the camera angle changes automatically, the LED light flashes abnormally, the device turns on by itself even though it is turned off, the account cannot be logged in even though the correct password is entered, the security settings are changed, and the network traffic suddenly increases. These signs indicate a high possibility that the camera is being controlled remotely and the data may be being copied illegally.

Users need to pay attention when detecting unusual signs of surveillance cameras.

If the camera shows signs of being hacked, users should disconnect from the internet, change the passwords of related accounts, and contact the manufacturer or technical staff for support. In case of blackmail threats, absolutely do not transfer money as requested. Instead, keep all evidence such as messages, images, related recordings and immediately report to the nearest police station for timely support.

One of the common tricks is that hackers scan the IP address and open ports of the camera. If they detect that the device is not well secured, they can quickly infiltrate, take control and monitor the entire family's activities. Many users, due to lack of knowledge or laziness to change the default password, unwittingly open the way for hackers to break in without knowing it.

Modern cameras with recording and two-way communication features are becoming more and more ideal targets for this type of attack. After taking control of the camera, the subjects often aim to monitor the family's daily schedule; thereby knowing the time of leaving the house, travel habits and blind spots in the security system, from which to plan theft or break-in.

Apple is about to launch a Siri upgrade after many delays?

Apple is targeting an internal release in spring 2026 for the delayed Siri upgrade, marking a major step in its efforts to reshape its artificial intelligence business, according to Bloomberg .

Apple's Siri team is reportedly working on a new version of its voice assistant as part of the iOS 26.4 software update. The long-awaited improvements will allow Siri to tap into users' personal data and on-screen activity to more accurately process requests.

Apple is having trouble developing a new version of Siri.

“.4” updates — known as “E” in Apple’s internal software development schedule — are typically released in March. That happened with iOS 18.4 this year and iOS 17.4 in 2024. However, the company has yet to set an exact release date for the iOS 26.4 update, beyond the general spring timeframe.

When asked for comment, Apple said it had not announced an official timeline for the new Siri features. The company only reiterated its previous statement that the upgrades would be rolled out “over the next year.” The timeline could still change depending on how it works to address issues that arise.

If development progresses smoothly over the next few weeks, Apple may consider previewing some features when it launches its new iPhone lineup in the fall, though no final decisions have been made, a source said.

Indonesian team won the largest tournament of Free Fire game in Southeast Asia

The 12 strongest teams, representing Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia – after a fierce group stage journey – have entered the rounds to compete for the championship title of Free Fire World Series SEA 2025 Spring Survival mode and a ticket to the Esports World Cup 2025.

FFWS SEA 2025 Spring is held at the National Convention Center with modern competition technology. (Photo: Manh Hung)

To win the championship, teams must first achieve 80 points through the rounds, then win a "Booyah!" (lead in one of the following rounds) or after the rounds with the highest total score if no team wins a "Booyah". With this unique format, the Indonesian team ONIC unexpectedly won the championship trophy by leading the final game despite only being in 2nd place in total points.