encrypted messaging Archives

AppWizard

October 28, 2024

Encrypted messaging apps: a persistent challenge in fighting organised crime

Approximately 700 officers from the Australian Federal Police executed arrest warrants as part of Operation Kraken, aimed at apprehending Jay Je Yoon Jung, the alleged mastermind behind the encrypted messaging application Ghost, used for organized crime. Ghost facilitated various illicit activities, including drug and weapon trafficking, with around 800 devices globally, 376 identified in Australia. The AFP learned about Ghost through Europol and collaborated with the US FBI and Royal Canadian Mounted Police to access its software. The operation highlighted challenges in disrupting encrypted communications, accelerating law enforcement's technological adoption, and preventing future exploitation by criminals. Australia's encryption laws allow law enforcement to access encrypted communications, sparking a debate on privacy and public safety. Continuous innovation, international collaboration, and training for law enforcement are essential to counter organized crime effectively.

AppWizard

October 20, 2024

Best enterprise messaging platform of 2024

The top five enterprise messaging platforms of 2024 are: 1. Slack - Rating: ★★★★★ - Pros: Intuitive interface, supports seamless collaboration. - Cons: Can be distracting. 2. Zoho Cliq - Rating: ★★★★½ - Pros: Affordable, easy to use. - Cons: Limited third-party integrations. 3. Microsoft Teams - Rating: ★★★★ - Pros: No extra cost for Microsoft 365 enterprise subscribers. - Cons: User interface needs improvement. 4. Google Workspace - Rating: ★★★★ - Pros: Intuitive interface, top-notch performance. - Cons: Limited control over data privacy. 5. RingCentral Video - Rating: ★★★★½ - Pros: High-quality video calls. - Cons: Expensive. Key features of an enterprise messaging app include instant and reliable messaging delivery, encryption, cloud storage, and a mobile app. When choosing an enterprise messaging platform, consider cost, security, ease of use, and performance. The evaluation process for selecting these platforms involved assessing feature sets, user experience, integration capabilities, customer support, scalability, and collaboration features.

AppWizard

October 11, 2024

Report shows how messaging apps are used to spread propaganda

A study conducted by researchers from New York University (NYU) surveyed 4,500 users across nine countries and interviewed political strategists from 17 nations to examine the use of messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram in political discourse. The findings revealed that 62% of respondents received political content via these apps, with 55% of that content coming from unknown sources due to insufficient content moderation. Political operatives exploit paid features on these platforms to increase their reach, with WhatsApp’s Business Platform offering tools that enhance visibility despite prohibitions against political use. Viber and Telegram also provide similar functionalities, allowing for the circumvention of rules and verification processes. The report highlights tactics such as infiltrating social media groups, using fake accounts, and cross-posting content across platforms, contributing to the spread of disinformation. Recommendations for messaging app developers include stricter account limits and better vetting of business accounts, while policymakers are urged to regulate encrypted messaging platforms to combat disinformation.

AppWizard

October 9, 2024

Russia and Turkey ban Discord messaging app

Russia and Turkey have imposed restrictions on the messaging platform Discord due to its failure to comply with local regulations. In Russia, the internet regulatory body Roskomnadzor cited violations related to terrorism, extremist recruitment, and drug trafficking, while data from NetBlocks confirmed Discord's restriction across multiple internet service providers. A Moscow court recently fined Discord for not removing forbidden content. In Turkey, the telecommunications regulator ICTA linked Discord to serious offenses, including child abuse and online harassment, following a court ruling. Both countries have a history of limiting access to social media under security pretexts.

AppWizard

September 20, 2024

Encrypted ‘Ghost’ App: What We Know

Authorities have dismantled the encrypted chat application Ghost, which was used by criminal networks globally. Launched in 2021, Ghost required users to purchase customized devices for access, ensuring anonymity. It operated with three encryption standards, allowing users to erase messages and reset devices. The app’s servers were located in Iceland and France, with its founder in Australia and financial transactions traced to the United States. Ghost had several thousand users, exchanging around 1,000 messages daily, and was exclusively associated with criminal enterprises, facilitating drug trafficking, weapons dealing, violence, and money laundering. The operation resulted in the arrest of 51 individuals, primarily in Australia, and is part of a trend of law enforcement dismantling encrypted platforms like EncroChat and Sky ECC. Despite these successes, the landscape of encrypted communication remains fragmented, with major services like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram still in use. Law enforcement emphasizes the need for access to communications among criminals while balancing user privacy.

AppWizard

September 20, 2024

International Raids Shut Down Ghost Encrypted Messaging App

Law enforcement agencies from multiple countries executed an operation that dismantled Ghost, an encrypted messaging service used by criminal organizations, resulting in 51 arrests and the confiscation of over .1 million in assets. The alleged creator and administrator of Ghost, a 32-year-old Australian citizen, was among those arrested. The operation led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), in collaboration with international agencies, also resulted in the shutdown of a drug lab in Australia and the seizure of weapons and narcotics. Ghost was developed nine years ago and marketed exclusively to criminals, allowing secure communication via modified mobile phones sold for about ,350. The app featured advanced security measures, including self-destructing messages and multiple encryption standards. It facilitated communications for large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering, with around 1,000 messages exchanged daily. Law enforcement began investigating Ghost in 2022, leading to a task force that identified key suppliers and users. The operation, conducted between September 17 and 18, resulted in 38 arrests in Australia, 11 in Ireland, and one each in Canada and Italy. The alleged mastermind faces multiple criminal charges. Ongoing law enforcement actions against encrypted messaging services are causing a shift in criminal communication strategies, leading to a fragmented messaging landscape and presenting challenges for law enforcement.

AppWizard

September 19, 2024

How the AFP cracked criminal messaging app ‘Ghost’

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched Operation Kraken, mobilizing up to 700 officers for coordinated raids targeting a 32-year-old man, Jay Je Yoon Jung, alleged to have created an encrypted communication platform called 'Ghost' used by organized crime. The operation involved pre-dawn raids, with a focus on Jung's residence in Narwee, Sydney, where flashbangs were used. Jung faces serious charges, including supporting a criminal organization and dealing in identification information. The Ghost app, marketed as 'tamper-proof', attracted criminal clients such as the Hell's Angels. The AFP has monitored over 125,000 messages on the platform, resulting in 46 arrests and the prevention of 50 threats to life. They seized over 210 kilograms of illicit drugs, 26 weapons, and million in cash during the operation. The AFP's technical team developed methods to access devices linked to Ghost, enabling them to gather real-time intelligence. Operation Kraken follows the successful Operation Ironside against another encrypted messaging platform, ANOM, enhancing the AFP's capability to combat organized crime and share intelligence internationally.

AppWizard

September 18, 2024

Police infiltrate Ghost encrypted messaging app, dozens arrested

Australian law enforcement infiltrated the encrypted communications app "Ghost," linked to organized crime, resulting in 38 arrests across four states and additional arrests in Canada, Sweden, Ireland, and Italy. Jay Je Yoon Jung, the 32-year-old suspected administrator of Ghost, faced charges in a Sydney court and remains in custody. The app, created in 2017, was used by various criminal groups for secure communication and has been associated with drug importation and orchestrated killings. Since March, authorities monitored 125,000 messages and 120 video calls through Ghost, preventing 50 potential incidents of serious crime. Australia's collaboration with a Europol-led task force began in 2022, and French authorities provided technical resources to decrypt communications. Australian police further compromised Ghost by altering software updates, allowing access to content on devices within Australia. Jung allegedly managed a network of resellers, selling modified smartphones with Ghost for 2,350 Australian dollars, which included a subscription and technical support.

AppWizard

September 18, 2024

Criminal messaging app Ghost shut down in global police sting | The National

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested a suspect linked to the Ghost messaging app, known for its unhackable features and use among criminals. This operation highlights the AFP's efforts to combat cybercrime through strategic actions against encrypted communication platforms. The arrest may influence how law enforcement agencies globally approach similar technologies and raise questions about the future of encrypted messaging apps in criminal activities.

AppWizard

September 18, 2024

Global Police Sting Takes Down ‘Ghost’ Organised Crime Messaging App

An international sting operation has dismantled the encrypted messaging app 'Ghost', used by criminals for drug trafficking, money laundering, and murders. Jay Je Yoon Jung, a 32-year-old Australian, is suspected of being the app's mastermind. The operation involved police forces from nine countries and was coordinated by Europol, resulting in numerous arrests in Italy, Ireland, Sweden, Canada, and Australia. The Ghost app was developed nearly a decade ago and marketed as 'unhackable', requiring modified smartphones and a subscription for access. Australian police infiltrated the app's network in 2022, monitoring communications for two years and thwarting violent plots, including 50 death threats. Authorities seized weapons, drugs, and over one million euros in cash, with a significant drug trafficking route disrupted in Ireland where narcotics worth approximately 16 million euros were confiscated. Jung, apprehended in New South Wales, faces five charges, including supporting a criminal organization, and could receive a prison sentence of up to three years.