The number of incidents recorded by the National Cybersecurity Center (CNCS) in March rose 176% compared to the same month of 2019, to 138, according to the Cybersecurity Observatory bulletin released today.

According to the bulletin, there was an increase of 176% “if we compare March 2019 with March 2020 in the number of incidents registered by CERT.PT [service of the CNCS that coordinates the response to incidents], from 50 to 138”.

From February, the pre-pandemic period, to March, there was an increase of 84% in the number of incidents recorded, from 75 to 138.

The Cybersecurity Observatory also highlights an increase of 217% between February and March this year “in the number of ‘phishing’ incidents [computer attack aimed at ‘fishing’ a user’s sensitive data] recorded by CERT.PT, from 18 to 57 “.

These phishing campaigns, says the Cybersecurity Observatory, “took advantage of the confinement to simulate digital services that have a higher consumption and loyalty, such as, for example, homebanking services, streaming digital content and online stores. ‘”.

The bulletin also states that the complaints received by the Office of Cybercrime of the Public Ministry increased from 20 in February to 46 in March.

“In April, until the 16th, the growth trend became exponential, with 76 complaints until that date (one incident for CERT.PT sets up a campaign, regardless of the number of victims; each complaint at the Public Ministry configures a possible victim. ) “, he says.

The National Cybersecurity Center (CNCS) has recorded “a total of 295 incidents” since the state of emergency was declared, of which almost half (46%) were registered in March, an official source told Lusa