German intel agency gets €150mn to crack encryption of WhatsApp, other messaging services – reports

November 30, 2016 at 18:59

It’s understood that the BND will develop some of these programs itself

Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) wants to hack its way around encryption used by instant messaging services such as WhatsApp and Telegram, and has just been given €150 million ($160 million) to do so.

The BND has developed the Reconnaissance of Non-Standardized Communication in Internet project (ANISKI) to tackle encryption.

It aims to crack encryption methods used by popular messaging services as, at present, the BND can only access information sent in “less than 10” of the 70 popular communication services.

ANISKI will involve developing “analysis and processing software" as well as "powerful deciphering hardware,” according to Netzpolitik. It hopes to then “exploit… weaknesses in the implementation” which will then “allow content to be opened.”

It’s understood that the BND will develop some of these programs itself, while some of the work will also be outsourced to external companies.

$Germany’s fractious coalition falls apart—and how!$