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Brazil investigates suspected cyberattack on emergency alert system after millions receive false alarms
🇲🇽 Mexico /Technology

Brazil investigates suspected cyberattack on emergency alert system after millions receive false alarms

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Brazil's Civil Defense is investigating a suspected cyberattack on its emergency alert system that sent millions of unauthorized messages nationwide.
  • The system, designed to warn of natural disasters, sent a message containing the word "misanthropy" before being deactivated.
  • Authorities have assured the public there is no cause for concern, and police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Brazil's Civil Defense is investigating a suspected cyberattack that triggered millions of unauthorized emergency alert messages across the country. The alerts, sent via a platform designed to warn citizens of imminent natural disasters, contained the word "misanthropy," meaning hatred of humanity.

Everything leads us to believe it was a hacker attack.

— Wolnei WolffSecretary of Civil Defense, Wolnei Wolff, stated that the incident was likely a hacker attack.

Civil Defense Secretary Wolnei Wolff stated that "everything leads us to believe it was a hacker attack," confirming that "millions" of Brazilians received the false alerts. The emergency alert system was deactivated shortly after the unauthorized message was sent remotely by an individual outside the national protection system. Wolff declined to specify when the system would be operational again, but assured the public there was "no reason for concern."

millions of citizens received alerts during the attack.

— Wolnei WolffSecretary of Civil Defense, Wolnei Wolff, confirmed the widespread nature of the false alerts.

The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) also issued a statement to reassure citizens. The Civil Defense Alert platform uses Cell Broadcast technology, which delivers audible and visual alerts that interrupt all phone activity, even on silent mode, to ensure users are notified. The platform was preemptively deactivated at 1:30 AM local time after the remote activation of the alert. Police have opened an investigation into the incident.

There is no reason for concern for the population.

— AnatelBrazil's government telecommunications agency, Anatel, issued a statement to reassure the public.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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