EncroChat phones used by international criminal networks around the world to exchange encrypted data and millions of messages came with dual operating systems (Android OS and the EncroChat OS).
They also provided users with self-destruct messages, panic and password wipe, Secure Boot, tamper-proofing, and a brute force resistant FIPS 140-2 certified hardware cryptographic engine. EncroChat devices could also be remotely erased by the reseller or helpdesk on customer notice.
I just have to laugh out loud at the cheek of this message of warning to the users: The operation ended on June 13, 2020, when the group behind the EncroChat network realized that the platform was infiltrated by law enforcement agents. On that day, EncroChat sent a warning to all users advising them to urgently throw away their phones and proceeded to shut down the servers.
"EMERGENCY FOR ENCRO USERS: Today, we had our domain seized illegally by government entities."
A network used for criminal purposes is taking about legality? Encryption is good, but not the act of using it for illegal purposes. This is the ever looming issue on the Internet – anything can be used for good or evil, but evil actions tend to eat away at the rights and privileges of good people. Another lesson though is that criminals will find another way no matter what public doors keep getting closed to them.
See Hundreds arrested after encrypted messaging network takeover
#technology #security #encryption
European law enforcement agencies arrested hundreds of suspects in several countries including France, Netherlands, the UK, Norway, and Sweden after infiltrating the EncroChat encrypted mobile communication network used by organized crime groups.