The Australian Federal Police (AFP) yesterday arrested and charged a man with creating and administering an app called Ghost which is said to be "a dedicated encrypted communications platform … built solely for the criminal underworld" and which allowed criminals to arrange acts of violence, launder money, and traffic in illegal drugs.
AFP infiltrates 'secret app' allegedly used by criminal underworld | 7NEWS
Ghost was created about nine years ago and sold with a modified smartphone for about AU$2,350 ($1,600), which included a six-month subscription to an encrypted network and technical support. AFP claims 376 active phones are in use in Australia.
Earlier this year, AFP warned it had already infiltrated Ghost and yesterday revealed it had carried out a successful supply chain attack against the app.
"The administrator regularly pushed out software updates, just like those needed for regular mobile phones. But AFP was able to modify these updates, essentially infecting the devices, allowing AFP to access the content of devices in Australia."
