During the attack, the intruder intercepted communications and duplicated contacts, allowing it to send messages via WhatsApp while impersonating the Minister. The Minister also said the issue was resolved without needing to replace his mobile phone.

Speaking to news agency Lusa in Athens, Greece, the Minister said he had been told the attack exploited vulnerabilities in his mobile phone, which no longer supported software updates.

“While the update is not carried out, there is an opening for intrusions. That was what happened,” he said.

Nuno Melo explained that the attack involved the “diversion of communications” and the duplication of contacts, allowing third parties to send messages through WhatsApp while impersonating the minister. However, he said the situation had been resolved by replacing the mobile phone.

Money request

According to an official source from the Ministry of National Defence, the message sent in Nuno Melo's name requested a money transfer. Security protocols were activated following the detection of the cyberattack, which was attributed to a virus.

The minister said he had been alerted to the situation after his press adviser, who was accompanying him, received a suspicious message.

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