Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by GekkePrutser 1841 days ago
These gangsterphones are far from cheap. I remember the earlier network of them that was taken down in the Netherlands. I forget the name but the phones apparently cost around €2000 which is more than the most expensive iPhone you can buy.

I guess gangsters only trust other shady types to sell them stuff. In this case the trust was misplaced because they stored all the keys centrally and the cops were listening in for months before they shut it down.
1 comments
willis936 1841 days ago
Sounds like they're suckers. Higher prices should be setting off "con" alerts in their head. I wouldn't trust someone who can't do proper risk assessment to sell me drugs.
link
hkyigkfnrj 1841 days ago
Or maybe they are thinking that if they pay a lot, they "are not the product".

A bit like buying Apple, which is also very expensive.

link
mytailorisrich 1841 days ago
It (encrochat) worked well and the network was brought down when the police go access the the servers (physical access, I believe).

On a side note, conning international criminals carries a level of risk to one's health...

link
_abox 1840 days ago
It didn't work well. It stored encryption keys centrally and because of that the police was listening in for months without anyone knowing before they shut it down.

For an encrypted phone network that's pretty much the opposite of working well. Even with the servers compromised the network should remain secure. Like it is with Signal and even WhatsApp.

I always wonder why such networks make mistakes like storing key material centrally. I suppose telling a crime lord that he can't have his messages back because he forgot his PIN code is not fun. But neither is having their network cracked by the police I guess.

link
willis936 1841 days ago
>conning international criminal carries a level of risk to one's health

True, but so does cooperating with authorities to be a honeypot. Branding yourself as a legitimate business for criminals is a Bad Idea for the very reason encrochat learned. The criminals should be thinking the same way.

link
mytailorisrich 1841 days ago
> True, but so does cooperating with authorities to be a honeypot

I'm not aware that Encrochat did anything of the sort.

link