Portugal's largest telecommunications operator, MEO (Altice Portugal), confirmed it was targeted by a cyberattack that disrupted international internet connectivity across the country. The incident occurred on 14 September, causing significant latency or outages for users trying to access foreign websites and services, while domestic traffic remained unaffected.
MEO's technical team quickly identified the attack as a network saturation assault—an attempt to overwhelm international traffic routes. The company activated mitigation protocols and restored normal service within hours, with residual congestion resolving fully by the following day.
Crucially, MEO confirmed that no customer data was accessed or compromised. The attack did not involve infiltration, data theft, or ransomware—it was focused solely on degrading connectivity through traffic saturation.
While other providers—including NOS, Vodafone, and Digi—reported minor disruptions, these were attributed to shared international traffic infrastructure rather than direct targeting. Customers were advised that the issue was systemic and not related to individual equipment.
The incident underscored the vulnerability of international internet routes but also confirmed that MEO’s internal systems and customer data remained secure. Service has been fully restored.
