Authorities Take Down Major Messaging App Used by Criminal Networks

In a significant crackdown, European authorities have shut down a messaging service known as Matrix, a covert platform reportedly utilized by various international criminal organizations. This decisive action was primarily conducted by Dutch and French law enforcement on December 3.

Matrix, which had multiple aliases including Mactrix, Totalsec, X-quantum, and Q-safe, served as a crypto communication hub that facilitated illicit activities. The app, predominantly used by Google Pixel users, boasted an impressive suite of features allowing users to conceal their identities online, engage in secure video calls, and manage transactions discreetly.

The investigation into Matrix's operations was triggered after police discovered a device linked to the service in the vehicle of crime journalist Peter R. de Vries, who was attacked in 2021. Following this discovery, authorities monitored the app's communications for several months, managing to intercept and read over 2.3 million messages during this period.

With an advanced infrastructure comprising over 40 globally distributed servers, Matrix created a false sense of security for its users, who believed their communications were shielded from law enforcement scrutiny. The app functioned on a subscription model, costing users between €1,300 (~$1,356) and €1,600 (~$1,669) for a six-month period, and operated on an invite-only basis to bolster exclusivity.

Beyond its technical sophistication, Matrix had a remarkably diverse user base, with law enforcement identifying communications in 33 different languages, mainly concentrated in Southern Europe. Authorities have successfully uncovered the identities of numerous users involved in severe criminal activities, including international drug trafficking, arms smuggling, money laundering, and forming criminal partnerships.

The service is reported to have been directed from Spain, with its ownership linked to a Lithuanian national. So far, two arrests have been made in connection to Matrix, but investigators warn that these are just the beginning, as the legal repercussions for the app's users may be severe.

Stay tuned as this story develops, and remember: the digital world can often provide cloaked avenues for criminal activity, but authorities are always on the lookout!