Port of Santos Faces System Outage, Suspected Cyberattack

A failure affecting the information systems of the Santos Port Authority (APS), which began on Friday, November 6, disrupted operational procedures and prompted heightened security measures at the Port of Santos. The incident remains under investigation amid reports of a possible extortion attempt by cybercriminals.

According to Brazilian newspaper A Tribuna, the server outage began following a power fluctuation. The disruption affected identification and access control systems, as well as digital tools used in port operations.

The newspaper reported that suspected hackers had demanded payment to restore the systems. Brazil’s Federal Police are investigating whether a cyberattack actually occurred or whether third parties attempted to exploit the system instability to demand money.

At the time of the report, authorities had not confirmed a cyberattack or determined whether any data had been accessed without authorization.

Digital System Failure Disrupts Operations at the Port of Santos

The outage caused delays in procedures involving vessel, truck, and train movements. Tasks normally handled by automated systems had to be performed manually, increasing the time required for certain operations.

Among the affected procedures were checks to determine whether vessel dimensions were compatible with available berths.

According to A Tribuna, approximately 80% of administrative employees were working remotely because of operational difficulties at the port authority’s headquarters.

APS operates its own data processing and storage infrastructure. With its systems unavailable, specialists from Brazil’s Federal Data Processing Service (Serpro) were called in to assist with the investigation and service restoration. System backups were also submitted for forensic examination.

Port Security Raised to Level 2

In response to problems affecting access control systems, the São Paulo State Commission for Public Security at Ports, Terminals, and Waterways (Cesportos-SP) ordered an increase in security measures across the port complex on Sunday, November 8.

The decision raised security to Level 2, classified as heightened, on a three-level scale. Level 1 represents normal conditions, while Level 3 applies to exceptional situations.

The measure allows for increased police presence within the port area, including support from the Military Police. The commission is coordinated by Federal Police delegate Edson Patrício do Nascimento.

APS Says Port Operations Are Continuing

In a statement to the press, the Santos Port Authority said the disruption had affected its website, internal systems, and services used by port customers and other users.

Despite the difficulties, the authority said port operations were continuing, with no shutdown anticipated. According to APS, vessel arrivals and departures and landside access to the port remain operational.

The port authority also said it had implemented contingency procedures and reinforced its Port Guard teams to maintain security and ensure continued access to the facilities.

Regarding the cause of the disruption, APS acknowledged a suspected cybersecurity incident but emphasized that its scope had yet to be determined and that any potential compromise of data remained unconfirmed.

While technical teams work to restore the systems, services are being provided through alternative procedures and internal controls. The authority acknowledged that delays could occur but said no services had been suspended.

Source:A Tribuna