security

Severe weather event alert platform buzzed devices across the country with the word 'misanthropy'

The Brazilian National Secretariat for Civil Protection and Defense (SEDEC) and Federal Police (PF) are investigating a suspected hack of the country's emergency alert system after an unauthorized "extreme" alert pinged devices across the country.

Defesa Civil Nacional confirmed that its dispatch platform, often used to inform the public about severe weather events, was taken offline in the early hours of Saturday, June 20, after Brazilians reported the alert, which read: "Alerta extremo - Defesa Civil:misantropi4."

"Misantropia" is Portuguese for misanthropy, hatred of humankind.

The message reached an unknown number of devices, with reports coming from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná, and the Federal District.

Civil defense authorities in all four areas confirmed the alerts were bogus and likely stemmed from an attack on the system overseen by Brazil's National Telecommunications Agency, Anatel.

"Anatel clarifies that the alert messages received by mobile phone users during the early hours of this Saturday were not issued by the competent authorities responsible for the population alert system," it said in a statement.

"There is currently no reason for concern on the part of the population as a result of the messages received."

The agency went on to say that it remained confident in the alert broadcast system's capability to help save lives during periods of disaster.

National Civil Defense officials have not confirmed whether anyone responsible for the suspected breach has been identified or apprehended, although they are not believed to be part of government staff.

"The Defesa Civil Alerta dispatch platform was taken offline at 01:30 this Saturday (6/20), after suffering a breach and issuing an alert to various regions of the country, remotely ordered by someone outside the National System of Protection and Civil Defense," the department stated.

"The message issued was of the Extreme Alert type and contained the word 'misanthropy' – which means hatred of humanity. It is likely a hacker attack."

A Defesa Civil Nacional chief said in a press conference that a new dispatch system was already under development that would place greater emphasis on security and preventing unauthorized intrusions. 

The agency also committed to relaunching the affected system as soon as possible after ensuring it is properly secured. ®