Generally, agencies crack messages or seize an already available encrypted communication platform to keep track of cybercriminals. Two such examples would be Encrochat and Phantom Secure, which were encrypted messaging networks.
However, it turns out that, like always FBI has been a step ahead of other agencies as it took control of a full-fledged encrypted communications company, Anom or known to users as the Anom app, when it was in its infancy phase and transformed it into a large-scale honeypot.
This means, instead of going after criminals, the FBI lured them to come to the bureau. Interestingly, the bureau tried to fill the void created by the seizure of encrypted services like Encrochat and SkyGlobal and presented Anom as the perfect mode of communication to criminals worldwide.
Seized Anom.io domain (Image: Hackread.com)
Over 20 million messages netted so far
Through Anom, the FBI ran an encrypted communications app that was mainly used by organized crime. The purpose behind this step was to collect user messages and monitor their activities covertly.
The operation was disclosed by George Washington University’s researcher, Seamus Hughes, who shared unsealed court documents on the web.
Photos shared by the FBI shows bulk cash, GPS location of narcotics shipments, and discussions of criminal activity on other encrypted de ..
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