Exclu was an encrypted messaging app that was shut down after a series of international raids in February 2023.
Service
Exclu offered licences for three or six months, for €500 and €900 respectively.
History
In 2019 German police raided CyberBunker, which led to them obtaining data needed to decrypt the Exclu services. Data was shared with other police forces.
On 3 February 2023 simultaneous raids took place on properties in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Belgium. 48 people were arrested, including administrators, developers and users of Exclu.
Dutch police said that arrests were based on two distinct operations. The first, called 26Sambar, started in September 2020 and targeted owners and managers of Exclu. They were suspected of facilitating criminals. The second, called 26Lytham, began in late April 2022. This specifically targeted users suspected of being involved in organised crime.
In February 2023 German police announced that George Mitchell was one of five major suspects behind the network.
References
- ^ Vigliarolo, Brandon (2023-02-07). "Eurocops shut down Exclu encrypted messaging app, arrest dozens". The Register. Archived from the original on 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- ^ "Dutch police take down Exclu encrypted chat service with 42 arrests, €4 million seized". NL Times. 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- Tallant, Nicola (2023-02-14). "German police target George 'The Penguin' Mitchell in encrypted phone network investigation". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 2023-02-18. Retrieved 2023-02-18.