Exclu (encrypted messaging app)
Exclu was an encrypted messaging app that was shut down after a series of international raids in February 2023.[1]
Service
Exclu offered licences for three or six months, for €500 and €900 respectively.[1][2]
History
In 2019 German police raided CyberBunker, which led to them obtaining data needed to decrypt the Exclu services.[1] Data was shared with other police forces.[1][2]
On 3 February 2023 simultaneous raids took place on properties in Germany , the Netherlands, Poland and Belgium.[1] 48 people were arrested, including administrators, developers and users of Exclu.[1]
Dutch police said that arrests were based on two distinct operations.[2] The first, called 26Sambar, started in September 2020 and targeted owners and managers of Exclu.[2] They were suspected of facilitating criminals.[2] The second, called 26Lytham, began in late April 2022.[2] This specifically targeted users suspected of being involved in organised crime.[2]
In February 2023 German police announced that George Mitchell was one of five major suspects behind the network.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Vigliarolo, Brandon (2023-02-07). "Eurocops shut down Exclu encrypted messaging app, arrest dozens". The Register. https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/07/police_exclu_encrypted/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Dutch police take down Exclu encrypted chat service with 42 arrests, €4 million seized". NL Times. 2023-02-03. https://nltimes.nl/2023/02/03/dutch-police-take-exclu-encrypted-chat-service-42-arrests-eu4-million-seized.
- ↑ Tallant, Nicola (2023-02-14). "German police target George 'The Penguin' Mitchell in encrypted phone network investigation". Irish Independent. https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/crime/german-police-target-george-the-penguin-mitchell-in-encrypted-phone-network-investigation-42341287.html.
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