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Australian Federal Police and FBI nab underworld figures using encrypted app

abc.net.au

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Re: Australian Federal Police and FBI nab underworld figures using encrypted app

#21

Post by galaxyLogic »

Taniwha wrote: post #6

not just Australia, it's world wide and likely led by the FBI (but possibly data being collected outside the US to avoid the need of having actual warrants) The following thread looks at some of the opened court documents today: https://twitter.com/ericgarland/status/1402100449013125123 (and points out that the Trump organisation might be in trouble ....)

The tweet says: "... remember that Dipshit McSonInLaw used these exact "technologies" to communicate with the Saudis and stuff. ... ".

But, I don't see how he the tweeter could be sure or know that Trumps used this app?

Re: Australian Federal Police and FBI nab underworld figures using encrypted app

#22

Post by marlor »

galaxyLogic wrote: post #21
Taniwha wrote: post #6

not just Australia, it's world wide and likely led by the FBI (but possibly data being collected outside the US to avoid the need of having actual warrants) The following thread looks at some of the opened court documents today: https://twitter.com/ericgarland/status/1402100449013125123 (and points out that the Trump organisation might be in trouble ....)

The tweet says: "... remember that Dipshit McSonInLaw used these exact "technologies" to communicate with the Saudis and stuff. ... ". But, I don't see how he the tweeter could be sure or know that Trumps used this app?

I’m sure he has no idea. This is far from the only encrypted messaging system out there.

Re: Australian Federal Police and FBI nab underworld figures using encrypted app

#23

Post by Gibbon1 »

senectus1 wrote: post #4
na85 wrote: post #2

Text of TFA uses the term "infiltrating" in lieu of "cracking". Not that I necessarily expect Reuters to keep their infosec terminology straight but I wonder if this was a novel hack or if was a simple matter of a judicial gag order, seizing the developer's account and then pushing out a malicious update that enabled MITM or something.

from what I understand they developed the app themselves... marketed and pushed the app to certain "dark markets" and let them use the apps and devices as if they were secure. they were in fact real time monitoring every transaction. amazing really. and pretty funny if you asked me :-P

Sounds like they busted down an established provider of secure comm devices and then took over it's distribution network to push their own devices.

Re: Australian Federal Police and FBI nab underworld figures using encrypted app

#24

Post by sumedh »

cylde_frog wrote: post #16
michaelmrose wrote: post #9

Does anyone find it funny that each criminal group could have been better off relying on a "kid who knows computers" level of expertise and bog standard devices running open source software which at least wouldn't be trivially systematically turned against them all at once quite so easily.

I wonder about this too. What sort of people do international criminal organisations hire to manage their info-sec? A criminal that became a computer expert or a computer expert that became a criminal?

I would imagine its more of a computer expert who then becomes a criminal because of the money.

Re: Australian Federal Police and FBI nab underworld figures using encrypted app

#25

Post by cheschire »

bryanrasmussen wrote: post #17
cylde_frog wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder about this too. What sort of people do international criminal organisations hire to manage their info-sec? A criminal that became a computer expert or a computer expert that became a criminal?

Codefellas https://www.wired.com/2003/12/mafia/

Kids born after that article are nearly finished with high school. I’m pretty sure the dynamic has changed a little since then. Interesting to at least see how it used to be though.

Re: Australian Federal Police and FBI nab underworld figures using encrypted app

#26

Post by iJohnDoe »

senectus1 wrote: post #4
na85 wrote: post #2

Text of TFA uses the term "infiltrating" in lieu of "cracking". Not that I necessarily expect Reuters to keep their infosec terminology straight but I wonder if this was a novel hack or if was a simple matter of a judicial gag order, seizing the developer's account and then pushing out a malicious update that enabled MITM or something.

from what I understand they developed the app themselves... marketed and pushed the app to certain "dark markets" and let them use the apps and devices as if they were secure. they were in fact real time monitoring every transaction. amazing really. and pretty funny if you asked me :-P

Not funny. Pretty much worse fucking case scenario.

Imagine Signal, Telegram, or any other app that touts themselves as a secure app is really just the creation of the FBI, NSA, CIA, and NRO.

Remember, yesterday’s conspiracy theory is today’s reality.

Re: Australian Federal Police and FBI nab underworld figures using encrypted app

#27

Post by Gibbon1 »

cylde_frog wrote: post #16
michaelmrose wrote: post #9

Does anyone find it funny that each criminal group could have been better off relying on a "kid who knows computers" level of expertise and bog standard devices running open source software which at least wouldn't be trivially systematically turned against them all at once quite so easily.

I wonder about this too. What sort of people do international criminal organisations hire to manage their info-sec? A criminal that became a computer expert or a computer expert that became a criminal?

You hire people you can burn is what you do.

Shipping coordinators got busted? How sad.

Over my life Ive met people who while they seem competent and can tie their shoe laces appear to make bad decisions because they have trouble with judging likely outcomes. Those are the people getting hired to do this sort of work.

Re: Australian Federal Police and FBI nab underworld figures using encrypted app

#28

Post by postingawayonhn »

cylde_frog wrote: post #8

From what I understand they targeted a high ranking member of the gang and he promoted the app, which was developed by the police to others. Since a high level member endorsed it, it become widely used.

You're broadly correct though they are saying this app ended up being used by criminal organisations all over the world. Arrests took place across 18 countries including NZ, Australia, the UK, Germany, and the US.

Re: Australian Federal Police and FBI nab underworld figures using encrypted app

#29

Post by marlor »

diamondhandle wrote: post #20
ferros wrote: post #3

Looks like the app’s domain was also seized. https://www.anom.io/

Can someone explain what flag in the top left corner is? There’s probably another non-country flag I missed in there too. https://www.anom.io/trojan_shield_seal.jpg

Europol: https://www.europol.europa.eu/

Re: Australian Federal Police and FBI nab underworld figures using encrypted app

#30

Post by anigbrowl »

galaxyLogic wrote: post #21
Taniwha wrote: post #6

not just Australia, it's world wide and likely led by the FBI (but possibly data being collected outside the US to avoid the need of having actual warrants) The following thread looks at some of the opened court documents today: https://twitter.com/ericgarland/status/1402100449013125123 (and points out that the Trump organisation might be in trouble ....)

The tweet says: "... remember that Dipshit McSonInLaw used these exact "technologies" to communicate with the Saudis and stuff. ... ". But, I don't see how he the tweeter could be sure or know that Trumps used this app?

Eric Garland is a massive blowhard/self-promoter (and I say this despite sharing his dislike of Trump). Even when his claims are accurate he's so obnoxious and annoying that I can't be bothered to evaluate his other claims. I save a lot of time and mental agitation by ignoring e-personalities and assuming that if something is important I'll hear about it from a quality source before very long.
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