Unauthorized alert sent to cell phones across Brazil

Summary Cell phones across several Brazilian states received an unauthorized alert on Saturday morning displaying the word 'misantropi4,' which translates to 'misanthropy.'

Brazil's National Civil Defense warning platform has been temporarily taken offline.

The unauthorized message reached the major cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

São Paulo, Brazil CNN Brasil —

An unauthorized alert bearing a mysterious message that was sent to cell phones in several states across Brazil on Saturday morning is suspected to be the work of hackers, the Brazilian government said.

Devices lit up with the word “misantropi4,” an alphanumeric spelling of the Portuguese word “misantropia,” which in English translates to “misanthropy.” The final letter “a” was substituted with a number ‘4’ – a practice often used by hackers and termed “leetspeak.”

The alert – categorized as “extreme” – was initially received in the southern state of Paraná, but a second warning was triggered a few minutes later for cell phones in the major cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Suspected hacker sends unauthorized alert across Brazil. CNN Brasil

The emergency text system is similar to the US’ Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), better known to most Americans as AMBER alerts, which allows officials to broadcast short emergency text messages directly to mobile devices within specific geographic area, regardless of phone number or network.

Brazilian authorities said that the National Civil Defense’s warning platform was taken offline after being targeted by a likely hacker attack, and the government is working to restore the tool once all security conditions are reestablished.

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