Suspected Cyberattack Sends Fake Emergency Alert to Phones Across Brazil

Brazil's Cellbroadcast emergency alert system was taken offline after an attacker using the handle 'mizanthropiaz' sent fake 'Extreme Alert' messages (containing the text "misantropi4") to users across multiple states and major cities. Reporting attributes the breach to credentials exposed by an infostealer infection in 2016 and poor security controls (no MFA, simple static CAPTCHA); local authorities and Anatel have disabled the platform while investigating.