In December 2007, Portugal is witnessing a significant rise in cyber attacks and computer-related crime, with particular emphasis on the emergence of data-seizing malware (ransomware) affecting companies and essential services, including signs of vulnerability in critical institutions such as Multibanco, INEM, and IPMA. Although no single large-scale attack had yet taken place, the spread of this new type of threat made it clear that digital security has become a national priority.
Throughout the year, phishing and malware campaigns continued to circulate, but the new ransomware variants introduced direct data locking, demanding a ransom for the return of critical information. The situation highlighted that neither businesses nor home users were safe, and that adopting preventive measures was essential.
At this point, several practices were helping reduce the risk of ransomware:
- Performing regular backups on external drives or secure servers disconnected from the main network, ensuring that important data could be restored in the event of an attack.
- Keeping antivirus software up to date with the latest signatures capable of detecting the newly emerging ransomware variants.
- Avoiding the opening of suspicious email attachments or running files from unknown sources, even when they appear to come from familiar contacts.
- Monitoring systems with file-integrity control tools that alert users to unexpected changes in documents or critical folders.
- Implementing basic data-segregation policies in companies, keeping sensitive information stored separately and securely.
As 2007 cames to an end, it lefts behind a growing awareness that cyber security is no longer optional: prevention, education, and good practices is just as important as reacting to incidents. The country is now preparing to face the challenges of 2008, a year in which the sophistication of digital threats is expected to continue rising.
