Law enforcement agencies led by the FBI and the Australian Federal Police revealed that Anom, an encrypted messaging app used by organised crime groups, had been secretly run by investigators. The operation, known as Trojan Shield or Ironside, led to more than 800 arrests.
What happened
- More than 12,000 Anom devices were used by over 300 criminal organisations in more than 100 countries.
- Investigators collected around 27 million messages over about 18 months.
- Authorities seized more than eight tonnes of cocaine, other drugs, weapons, and over $48 million in cash and cryptocurrency.
- Europol and police in countries including Sweden, the Netherlands, and Germany took part.
Why it mattered
It was one of the largest law enforcement operations against encrypted criminal communications, following earlier takedowns of EncroChat and Sky ECC. Investigators were able to read messages in real time because criminals believed the platform was secure, making it a significant intelligence coup.
Lessons for organisations
Organisations should expect lawful access and investigations to extend to messaging platforms, and should only use approved, well-governed communication tools for business. Security leaders should also note that a tool’s claims of strong encryption are only as trustworthy as the people who run it.
Source: NPR
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