Tag: Encrochat
DISSIDENT IN DOCK AS COPS HACK CODE PHONES
MAN HELD ON DRUGS RAP
Gangs use £3.5k handsets in crime network
An PSNI/RUC investigation into organised crime has exposed a Europe-wide criminal network.
Follow this link to find out more and see what he looks like: https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3200933933319692&id=100002093504519&set=a.439170419496071&source=48
Cops here were the first to put people before the courts based on a breach of a secure mobile phone network called EncroChat. The arrests were part of a Europe-wide operation aimed at organised crime gangs – the largest of its kind ever carried out. Police services across the UK have seized weapons and huge amounts of drugs and cash in what is being seen as one of the most significant and successful operations aimed at taking down criminal crime lords. At the centre of it is EncroChat, an encrypted mobile phone network shared by criminal bosses across the continent. The system is WiFi-based and does not rely on a mobile network, users can only communicate by text or pictures, and cannot make a voice call. According to security sources the system is set up entirety for the benefit of criminal gangs – some of whom operate in the North of Ireland.
Handsets can cost up to £3,500 a piece and joining the network is by invitation only. Cracking the code has exposed a vast network of criminal enterprises and a higher level of co-operation between organised crime gangs than previously believed. Operation Venetic in the UK has been overseen by the National Crime Agency who have been working in partnership with police forces across Europe including the Gardaí. To date six people in the North of Ireland are facing charges as a result of cops breaching EncroChat. This week a dissident republican appeared in court as a result of Venetic. Prosecuting lawyer Robin Steer told Craigavon Magistrates Court last week that having accessed messages and images in an encrypted phone, police believe that Bryan McManus is involved in the “transport and shipment of large quantities of drugs and cash,” adding that “we say he is connected to a criminal network”.
McManus appeared at court via videolink from police custody and confirmed that he understood the 12 charges against him. The 642-year-old, from Aileen Terrace in Newry, was charged with nine drugs offences including the importation of cocaine and cannabis. The Co Armagh engineer, who has previous convictions for possessing handguns and ammunition and supplying funds or property for a terrorist organisation, was also charged with possessing criminal property and conspiring to convert and conceal criminal property. Intercepted messages referred to amounts of money up to £300,000 while others referred to “cocaine testing kits and a metal press used to make blocks of cocaine”.
JAILED
Turning to McManus’s previous record, the court heard that he was jailed for six and a half years in 2013 for firearms and terrorist offences and is the subject of a “terrorism notification order for 15 years”. Six mobile phones which had been seized “are still to be assessed. He conceded that another man arrested as part of the same operation has been freed on bail but Mr Steer highlighted how that defendant, Victor Notorantonio, has numerous health difficulties. McManus was remanded into custody until July 31st 2020. Security sources have told us there is ‘minimal’ involvement of paramilitary gangs, which highlights the increasing level of international organised crime in the North of Ireland.
“While the paramilitaries remain a significant criminal enterprise, and they are getting more sophisticated, it is the prevalence of international crime gangs that is most significant,” a security source told us. It is understood the NCA is frustrated that details of Venetic have emerged before the operation is complete. Last week French and Dutch authorities presented the results of a joint investigation to dismantle EncroChat. Millions of messages exchanged between criminals to plan serious crimes were analysed. A large number of suspects have also been arrested in a number of countries across Europe including the UK, Sweden and Norway. Many of these investigations were connected with international drug trafficking and violent criminal activities. The interception of EncroChat messages came to an end on June 13th 2020 when the company realised it had been compromised.
With many thanks to the: Sunday World and Richard Sullivan for the EXCLUSIVE original story
Follow these links to find out more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21858909
(2)-: https://fiannaiochta.wordpress.com/tag/dissident-republican/
(3)-: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13120646
(4)-: https://www.thejournal.ie/belfast-sentence-terrorism-842310-Mar2013/
Leading Co Tyrone republican’s home searched in encrypted calls probe
A LEADING Co Tyrone republican’s house is among a number of properties searched as part of an investigation into organised criminality linked to the breach of the Encrochat communications network
The breach of one of the world’s most secure communications networks has already resulted in four people appearing in court in the North of Ireland, with dozens of other cases expected in the coming weeks. Encrochat market encrypted handsets and, while the technology is legal, the high degree of security makes the handsets – which sell for up to £3,500 and can cost £1,500 for a sixth month contract – attractive to organised crime networks. Encrochat sent an urgent message two weeks ago to all users to destroy their handsets after a cyber breach. Many of these cannot be used to make voice calls and use a WiFi signal rather than mobile networks, with users limited to text or picture messages.
Users of the network received a message saying: “Due to the level of sophistication of the attack and the malware code, we can no longer guarantee the security of your device. We took immediate action on our network by disabling connectivity to combat the attack. “You are advised to power off and physically dispose of your device immediately.” Subsequently a number of people have appeared in court on charges alleged to be based on encrypted phone evidence. To date four people have appeared at three separate court hearings, charged with a range of drugs and weapons offences. A spokesperson for the National Crime Agency told The Irish News “We are aware of reports relating to law enforcement action taken against Encrochat, however we do not routinely confirm or deny the NCA’s involvement in investigations.”
With many thanks to: The Irish News and Allison Morris Security Correspondent for the original story – a.morris@irishnews.com
Follow these links to find out more: https://www.hackread.com/encrypted-communication-provider-security-breach-quits-operation/
(2)-: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/5dz9qx/encrochat-hacked-shutting-down-encrypted-phone
(3)-: https://www.technadu.com/encrochat-says-europol-took-control-its-infrastructure/105286/
(4)-: https://mobile.twitter.com/NCA_UK/status/1278648910932840448
Dozens in court following encrypted handset breach
EXCLUSIVE
A BREACH of one of the world’s most secure communications networks has resulted in a number of people appearing in court in the North of Ireland, with dozens of other cases expected in the coming weeks.
Encrochat market encrypted handsets to security personnel around the globe. The technology is legal and was developed initially over privacy concerns. However, it is alleged that the high degree of security makes the handsets, which sell for up to £3,500, attractive to organised crime networks. Encrochat sent an urgent message last weekend to all users to destroy their handsets after a breach. Within hours police on both sides of the border were engaged in search and arrest operations. Encrochat cannot be used to make voice calls. It uses a WiFi signal rather than mobile networks and users are limited to text or picture messages. Last Saturday users received an urgent message saying security across Europe had been compromised for around 30 minutes. The company said: “Due to the level of sophistication of the attack and the malware code, we can no longer guarantee the security of your device. We took immediate action on our network by disabling connectivity to combat the attack. “You are advised to power off and physically dispose of your device immediately”.
Subsequently a number of people have appeared in court charged with offences alleged to be based on encrypted phone evidence. Michael O’Loughlin, originally from Galway but with an address on the Upper Dromore Road in Warrenpoint, appeared in Newry court sitting in Lisburn on Wednesday. He faces two counts of conspiring with other people to commit murder, conspiring to possess firearms under suspicious circumstances, conspiring to make or supply a passport for a fraudulent purpose, conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to convert and transfer criminal property and a total of 11 drug offences. An officer told the court the evidence against O’Loughlin “has been obtained lawfully authorised clearance that has enabled access to his encrypted mobile phone content”. He denies the charges. Mr O’Loughlin’s lawyer, Ciaran Shields of Madden and Finucane, said: “The concerning feature here is the absolute dearth of press reporting and media attention in respect of a massive wholesale breach of an encrypted communication platform. “It appears that as many as 50 per cent of users have had their communications intercepted.
“It is inconceivable that all of these communications that have been concerning the preparation, instigation, or commission of crime. “For this reason it is now incumbent on the National Crime Agency and the police to provide clarity on the lawful basis used to legally breach this network and seize this information as potential evidential product.” A spokesperson for the National Crime Agency said: “We are aware of reports relating to law enforcement action taken against Encrochat, however we do not routinely confirm or deny the NCA’s involvement in
With many thanks to: The Irish News and ALLISON MORRIS Security Correspondent for the EXCLUSIVE report -a.morris@irishnews.com
Follow these links to find out more: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/crime/cops-struggling-crack-encrypted-phones-6962815.amp
(4)-: https://www.androidheadlines.com/2016/01/new-york-residents-can-vote-encrypted-device-ban.html
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