Sky ECC users called upon to register with federal police following mass hack
Federal police are calling on everyone with a Sky ECC phone to register. All Belgian users are being monitored as part of Operation Sky.
Federal police intercepts messages from all Sky ECC users in Belgium
Federal police issued a public appeal on Thursday evening requesting all users of Sky ECC phones to register, according to VRT NWS. Anyone using the system for legitimate purposes is guaranteed that their data will no longer form part of the police investigation after verification.
The appeal follows what was described as the largest police operation ever conducted in Belgium. Earlier this week, more than 200 premises were searched and dozens of people arrested as part of Operation Sky. Multiple tonnes of drugs were also seized during the operation.
The breakthrough in the investigation came after detectives managed to crack the encrypted communication system Sky ECC. Organised criminal gangs made extensive use of the system via their mobile phones. So far, approximately half a billion messages have been decrypted; a further half a billion messages still need to be processed.
The public appeal was issued at the request of the judicial authorities and the investigating judge overseeing the investigation. Belgian users of Sky ECC are being informed that their phones are being monitored on the orders of a French investigating judge.
The message explicitly states: "Private individuals and businesses who use Sky ECC for legitimate purposes are requested to register with the police. Following verification, the collected data will be released and will no longer form part of the police investigation."
Anyone able to demonstrate that they used the encrypted system solely for lawful communication will have the privacy of their data protected as soon as verification is complete.
Source: VRT NWS