Brazil Hit by Suspected Hack Attack as Unapproved Emergency Alert Blares Across Phones

An unauthorized, extreme emergency alert bearing the word misantropi4 circulated to cell phones across Brazil, prompting the National Civil Defense to temporarily take its warning platform offline. Officials say the message did not come from Civil Defense and is likely the work of hackers, with alerts first detected in Paraná and soon after in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. São Paulo Civil Defense said no official alert was issued by its agents, and Anatel is involved in the investigation as the Cellbroadcast system was disabled; some residents also received the same content via SMS. There are no reports of a disaster, and authorities are working to restore the system and determine the attack’s origin.