Security News > 2020 > July > E.U. Authorities Crack Encryption of Massive Criminal and Murder Network

Two months ago investigators in France and the Netherlands cracked the network's encryption, allowing law enforcement to listen in to criminal communications about selling and trafficking drugs, laundering money and murdering rivals, authorities said.

The service's owners apparently became aware of the criminal investigation last month, informing an estimated 60,000 users with a message warning them to get rid of their EncroChat devices because their servers-operating out of France - had been "Seized illegally by government entities," according to the NCA. The service relied on EncroChat devices, which came with pre-loaded apps for instant messaging as well as the ability to make secure internet calls, with no other "Conventional smartphone" functionality, U.K. officials said.

A published report in Vice Motherboard extensively details how authorities cracked EncroChat's encryption and intercepted criminal communications to take down a major communications pipeline for criminal activity.

Messages intercepted by authorities outlined clearly how criminal gangs allegedly directed members to procure money from customers, how to launder it safely, where to hide drugs, and when and how murders against rivals would be committed, according to the report.

The resulting arrests spanned a number of E.U. countries and the U.K., with authorities currently detaining alleged criminals in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden.

News URL

https://threatpost.com/eu-authorities-crack-encryption-murder-network/157146/