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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Vigliarolo, Brandon (2023-02-07). "Eurocops shut down Exclu encrypted messaging app, arrest dozens". The Register. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Dutch police take down Exclu encrypted chat service with 42 arrests, €4 million seized". NL Times. 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  3. ↑ Tallant, Nicola (2023-02-14). "German police target George 'The Penguin' Mitchell in encrypted phone network investigation". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
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