1 of the largest encrypted messaging app and cryptophone networks suggests it could have been utilised in an elaborate phishing marketing campaign, amidst studies of its takedown by Belgian and Dutch authorities.

Sky ECC, which offers of around 70,000 clients of its encrypted communications system, is reportedly one particular of the favourites of organised crime teams all-around the globe. It was not too long ago described that in a coordinated effort around 1500 Dutch police officers conducted various raids and even took down and seized a Sky ECC server.

“SKY ECC authorized distributors in Belgium and the Netherlands brought to our focus that a pretend phishing software falsely branded as SKY ECC was illegally created, modified and facet-loaded onto unsecure equipment, and safety characteristics of authorized SKY ECC telephones were being eradicated in these bogus equipment which were being then marketed through unauthorized channels,” the business explained in a statement.

Way too very little way too late?

Encrypted communications platforms enable their consumers to communicate securely, which would make them an ideal signifies of exchanging information in between criminals. Last summer season, Dutch authorities had cracked and taken down the EncroChat encrypted communications platforms.

According to modern studies, though Belgian prosecutors were being initially hesitant to remark on no matter if Sky ECC had been breached or not, they confirmed at a push convention past evening that the authorities have managed to crack the network’s encryption.

Belgian publication De Standaard studies that the raids were being the consequence of the authorities getting ready to capture live messages soon after possessing cracked Sky ECC’s encrypted messaging services.

Sky ECC has denied studies of its network getting compromised even though it did accept that the services “experienced short term interruptions in link with its servers.“

Via: VICE