Nuno Melo relativizes cyber attack on mobile phone

Nuno Melo, Portugal's Minister of National Defense, downplayed a cyberattack on his phone, stating that no one, including officials, is immune to such intrusions. During a parliamentary session, he responded to inquiries about the incident, sharing that he had previously faced similar attacks while serving as an MEP. Melo emphasized the importance of software updates to prevent vulnerabilities, revealing that the attack allowed unauthorized users to send messages impersonating him. The National Cybersecurity Center confirmed the incident and noted that Melo's phone was replaced. The initiative Citizens for Cybersecurity called for government transparency regarding the attack, highlighting potential state communication security risks.