How international authorities took out the popular cybercrime platform ‘Ghost’
By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)
An international law enforcement operation took down an encrypted cybercrime communication platform known as “Ghost,” and led to dozens of arrests around the world. Australian federal authorities announced Wednesday, Sept. 18, it made 38 arrests in raids across the country while authorities in Canada, Sweden, Ireland and Italy conducted similar raids.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
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Australian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on abc NewsFamily of Ghost ‘mastermind’ in shock as ‘major players’ arrested
Click to see story on Sydney Morning HeraldSyndicate ‘dismantled’ as AFP raids target Australian creator of app for criminals
Click to see story on ABC AustraliaCommunity enraged amid investigation into Delaware County police chief candidate
Click to see story on abc 6 PhiladelphiaGlobal police sting targets users of organized crime app
Click to see story on Japan TodayAustralia arrests dozens over app allegedly used by criminals worldwide
Click to see story on RocketNews‘Ghost’ cybercrime platform dismantled in global operation, 51 arrested
Click to see story on CTV NewsAustralia police arrest dozens after infiltrating encrypted messaging app Ghost
Click to see story on South China Morning PostEncrypted platform used by Irish criminals infiltrated
Click to see story on RTÉEncrypted ‘Ghost’ platform dismantled in blow to organised crime
Click to see story on Sky News UKAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on WPLGAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on WKMGThe creator of a communication app used by criminal gangs in the Middle East has been arrested by Australian police
Click to see story on Digi 24Australian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on KOB 4Global Police Sting Targets Users Of Organised Crime App
Click to see story on Barron'sAustralian Police conducted supply chain attack on crime app
Click to see story on The RegisterAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on TechXploreAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on KMIZAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens – KION546
Click to see story on KION‘Ghost’ global crime network crackdown: 11 arrests and multiple seizures, as Ireland had second largest user base of encrypted platform
Click to see story on Irish IndependentGlobal police sting targets users of organised crime app
Click to see story on The Straits TimesAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on Financial PostAFP infiltrates ‘secret app’ allegedly used by criminal underworld
Click to see story on 7NEWS AustraliaMajor raids as AFP arrests alleged mastermind of secret ‘Ghost’ network
Click to see story on 9NewsAustralian police infiltrate Ghost app, developed for ‘criminal’ gangs, to arrest dozens of suspects
Click to see story on Firstpost NewsEuropol has cracked the ‘Ghost’
Click to see story on ExpressenRight
Untracked Bias
Australia detains the creator of an app popular with criminals from around the world
Click to see story on DnoticiasEuropol has shut down the bulletproof encrypted communications of Ghost criminals
Click to see story on aktuality.skChat service for criminals taken offline, 51 people arrested
Click to see story on rd.nlAustralian police arrest alleged mastermind of global crime network
Click to see story on Daily FinlandWeb servers in Iceland hosted media for criminals
Click to see story on Fréttir – mbl.isEuropol Breaks Down Encrypted Money Laundering and Drug Trafficking Platform
Click to see story on www.dnevnik.bgEuropol: Criminal communications platform dismantled
Click to see story on RNEuropol holds press meeting on Ghost platform
Click to see story on tv4.se“Ghost”-mobiler knäckta i global insats
Click to see story on na.seEuropol exposes criminal platform, 51 people bitten
Click to see story on politika.rsAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on thealbertan.comAustralian police arrest alleged mastermind of global crime network
Click to see story on sydneysun.comGlobal police sting targets users of organised crime app
Click to see story on Macau BusinessBogus terror plot and underground messaging app: AFP arrest Sydney man after busting secret app
Click to see story on WAMN News OnlineEuropol: Criminal communications platform dismantled
Click to see story on aachener-zeitung.de15m euro of cocaine seized in Ireland after global crime platform infiltrated
Click to see story on perspectivemedia.comAustralia: Arrest Made in Connection with Ghost Web Application and Alleged Criminal Activities
Click to see story on archydeAustralian police arrest alleged mastermind of global crime network – IndiaPost NewsPaper
Click to see story on India PostGlobal police action targets app built for criminal activities
Click to see story on Selangor JournalGlobal police sting targets users of organised crime app | Fox 11 Tri Cities Fox 41 Yakima
Click to see story on fox41yakima.comAustralian police arrest alleged mastermind of global crime network
Click to see story on perthherald.comBlow to crime, secret network dismantled: 51 arrests, one in Italy
Click to see story on Calabria NewsNEWS: ‘Ghost’ cybercrime app dismantled, dozens arrested in Australia and Ireland – AML Intelligence
Click to see story on amlintelligence.comWorld police sting targets customers of organised crime app
Click to see story on pokonews.com“We allege hundreds of criminals including Italian organized crime, motorcycle gang members, Middle Eastern organized crime and Korean organized crime have used Ghost in Australia and overseas to import illicit drugs and order killings,” Ian McCartney, deputy commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, said.
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Australian Federal Police said the operation saved dozens of lives and thwarted worldwide drug trafficking efforts.
“Importantly, the AFP has prevented the death and serious injury of 50 individuals in Australia, because we’ve been able to decrypt these messages,” McCartney said.
Europol, the global task force helping in the effort, said the coalition dismantled a drug lab in Australia and seized drugs, weapons and more than $1 million globally.
“Today we have made it clear that no matter how hidden criminal networks think they are, they can’t evade our collective effort,” Europol’s Executive Director Catherine De Bolle said.
“This was truly a global game of cat and mouse, and today, the game is up,” Europol’s Deputy Executive Director Jean-Phillipe Lecouffe told reporters.
The AFP said the French assisted in decrypting Ghost communications.
“This time, the AFP engineered a new technological solution as the administrator regularly pushed out software updates, the AFT was able to modify those updates,” McCartney said. “In effect, we infected the devices, enabling us to access the content on Australian devices.”
The alleged ringleader of Ghost, Yoon Jung, was arrested at his home on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Authorities accused him of using a network of resellers to offer specialized iPhones to criminals worldwide. The cellphones reportedly sold for nearly $1,600 a piece and included a six-month subscription to the Ghost app as well as technical support.
The app reportedly gained popularity among criminals for its “advanced security features” and its disruption is a major blow to organized cybercrimes globally.
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As the investigation continues, more disruption to illegal activities and arrests are reportedly expected in connection with the cybercrime network.
The Europol-led crackdown includes help from the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Sweden, France, Iceland and the Netherlands.
[KARAH RUCKER]
AN INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATION TOOK DOWN AN ENCRYPTED CRIMINAL COMMUNICATION PLATFORM KNOWN AS “GHOST,” AND LED TO DOZENS OF ARRESTS.
AUSTRALIAN POLICE ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY IT MADE 38 ARRESTS IN RAIDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHILE AUTHORITIES IN CANADA, SWEDEN, IRELAND, AND ITALY CONDUCTED SIMILAR RAIDS.
[IAN MCCARTNEY]
“WE ALLEGE HUNDREDS OF CRIMINALS INCLUDING ITALIAN ORGANIZED CRIME, MOTORCYCLE GANG MEMBERS, MIDDLE EASTERN ORGANIZED CRIME AND KOREAN ORGANIZED CRIME HAVE USED GHOST IN AUSTRALIA AND OVERSEAS TO IMPORT ILLICIT DRUGS AND ORDER KILLINGS.”
[KARAH RUCKER]
AUSTRALIAN POLICE SAY THE OPERATION SAVED DOZENS OF LIVES AND THWARTED WORLDWIDE DRUG TRAFFICKING EFFORTS.
[IAN MCCARTNEY]
IMPORTANTLY, THE AFP HAS PREVENTED THE DEATH AND SERIOUS INJURY OF 50 INDIVIDUALS IN AUSTRALIA, BECAUSE WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO DECRYPT THESE MESSAGES.
[KARAH RUCKER]
EUROPOL, THE GLOBAL TASK FORCE HELPING IN THE EFFORT, REVEALED THE COALITION DISMANTLED A DRUG LAB IN AUSTRALIA, SEIZED DRUGS, WEAPONS AND MORE THAN ONE MILLION DOLLARS GLOBALLY.
AUSTRALIA’S POLICE FORCE SAID THE FRENCH ASSISTED IN DECRYPTING GHOST COMMUNICATIONS.
[IAN MCCARTNEY]
THIS TIME, THE AFP ENGINEERED A NEW TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION. AS THE ADMINISTRATOR REGULARLY PUSHED OUT SOFTWARE UPDATES, THE AFP WAS ABLE TO MODIFY THOSE UPDATES. IN EFFECT, WE INFECTED THE DEVICES, ENABLING US TO ACCESS THE CONTENT ON AUSTRALIAN DEVICES.”
[KARAH RUCKER]
THE ALLEGED RINGLEADER OF GHOST– YOON JUNG WAS ARRESTED AT HIS HOME TUESDAY. HE IS ACCUSED OF USING A NETWORK OF RESELLERS TO OFFER SPECIALIZED IPHONES TO CRIMINALS WORLDWIDE.
THE PHONES REPORTEDLY SOLD FOR NEARLY 16-HUNDRED DOLLARS AND INCLUDED A SIX-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION TO THE GHOST APP.
AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES– MORE DISRUPTION TO ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND ARRESTS ARE EXPECTED IN CONNECTION TO THE CRIMINAL NETWORK.
WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS STORY– AND YOU CAN TOO– JUST DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
Australian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on abc NewsFamily of Ghost ‘mastermind’ in shock as ‘major players’ arrested
Click to see story on Sydney Morning HeraldSyndicate ‘dismantled’ as AFP raids target Australian creator of app for criminals
Click to see story on ABC AustraliaCommunity enraged amid investigation into Delaware County police chief candidate
Click to see story on abc 6 PhiladelphiaGlobal police sting targets users of organized crime app
Click to see story on Japan TodayAustralia arrests dozens over app allegedly used by criminals worldwide
Click to see story on RocketNews‘Ghost’ cybercrime platform dismantled in global operation, 51 arrested
Click to see story on CTV NewsAustralia police arrest dozens after infiltrating encrypted messaging app Ghost
Click to see story on South China Morning PostEncrypted platform used by Irish criminals infiltrated
Click to see story on RTÉEncrypted ‘Ghost’ platform dismantled in blow to organised crime
Click to see story on Sky News UKAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on WPLGAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on WKMGThe creator of a communication app used by criminal gangs in the Middle East has been arrested by Australian police
Click to see story on Digi 24Australian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on KOB 4Global Police Sting Targets Users Of Organised Crime App
Click to see story on Barron'sAustralian Police conducted supply chain attack on crime app
Click to see story on The RegisterAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on TechXploreAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on KMIZAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens – KION546
Click to see story on KION‘Ghost’ global crime network crackdown: 11 arrests and multiple seizures, as Ireland had second largest user base of encrypted platform
Click to see story on Irish IndependentGlobal police sting targets users of organised crime app
Click to see story on The Straits TimesAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on Financial PostAFP infiltrates ‘secret app’ allegedly used by criminal underworld
Click to see story on 7NEWS AustraliaMajor raids as AFP arrests alleged mastermind of secret ‘Ghost’ network
Click to see story on 9NewsAustralian police infiltrate Ghost app, developed for ‘criminal’ gangs, to arrest dozens of suspects
Click to see story on Firstpost NewsEuropol has cracked the ‘Ghost’
Click to see story on ExpressenRight
Untracked Bias
Australia detains the creator of an app popular with criminals from around the world
Click to see story on DnoticiasEuropol has shut down the bulletproof encrypted communications of Ghost criminals
Click to see story on aktuality.skChat service for criminals taken offline, 51 people arrested
Click to see story on rd.nlAustralian police arrest alleged mastermind of global crime network
Click to see story on Daily FinlandWeb servers in Iceland hosted media for criminals
Click to see story on Fréttir – mbl.isEuropol Breaks Down Encrypted Money Laundering and Drug Trafficking Platform
Click to see story on www.dnevnik.bgEuropol: Criminal communications platform dismantled
Click to see story on RNEuropol holds press meeting on Ghost platform
Click to see story on tv4.se“Ghost”-mobiler knäckta i global insats
Click to see story on na.seEuropol exposes criminal platform, 51 people bitten
Click to see story on politika.rsAustralian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
Click to see story on thealbertan.comAustralian police arrest alleged mastermind of global crime network
Click to see story on sydneysun.comGlobal police sting targets users of organised crime app
Click to see story on Macau BusinessBogus terror plot and underground messaging app: AFP arrest Sydney man after busting secret app
Click to see story on WAMN News OnlineEuropol: Criminal communications platform dismantled
Click to see story on aachener-zeitung.de15m euro of cocaine seized in Ireland after global crime platform infiltrated
Click to see story on perspectivemedia.comAustralia: Arrest Made in Connection with Ghost Web Application and Alleged Criminal Activities
Click to see story on archydeAustralian police arrest alleged mastermind of global crime network – IndiaPost NewsPaper
Click to see story on India PostGlobal police action targets app built for criminal activities
Click to see story on Selangor JournalGlobal police sting targets users of organised crime app | Fox 11 Tri Cities Fox 41 Yakima
Click to see story on fox41yakima.comAustralian police arrest alleged mastermind of global crime network
Click to see story on perthherald.comBlow to crime, secret network dismantled: 51 arrests, one in Italy
Click to see story on Calabria NewsNEWS: ‘Ghost’ cybercrime app dismantled, dozens arrested in Australia and Ireland – AML Intelligence
Click to see story on amlintelligence.comWorld police sting targets customers of organised crime app
Click to see story on pokonews.comVOTE WITH THE UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.™
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