Dutch police crack encrypted communications network

The company sold mobile phones for 1,500 euros ($1,700) that had been protected with legal encryption software called Pretty Good Privacy, or PGP, and could be used only for email, said cybercrime prosecutor Martijn Egberts.

Police said in a statement that investigations into contract killings, drug trafficking and motorcycle gangs have shown that using encrypted networks "makes it almost impossible for investigation services to trace the communication between suspects."