A new depression bringing high winds (gusting to 100kms/ h) and rain is back hovering over Portugal – but the ANEPC (Civil Protection) website, usually relied upon to give updates, remains ‘down’ – as it has been for the last two weeks.
“We apologise. The site is under maintenance right now. Please try later. Thank you”, is the message visitors receive, albeit Lusa explains the situation has been caused by “vulnerabilities identified”.
Lusa’s understanding is that the suspension has been effected “for strictly preventative security reasons”, but that the site should be back up and running “during the second week of January (…) after technical work to reinforce security has been fully completed.”
The Civil Protection agency ’explained that after new critical vulnerabilities were identified in early December in various content management technologies and web platforms, the National Internal Security Network (RNSI) – which hosts and supports most of the critical applications and systems of the security and emergency forces of the Ministry of Internal Administration – immediately triggered necessary procedures with responsible entities and, during the week of December 15, “the respective correction mechanisms and security updates were applied’.
“In the specific case of the ANEPC public website, it was found that the application of these updates did not completely eliminate the identified vulnerabilities.
“For strictly preventive and security reasons, and with the aim of avoiding any exposure to potential attacks or intrusions, it was decided to temporarily suspend the publication on the internet of the institutional website and the public incident system (SADO),” said the agency, stressing that the suspension is “only external and does not affect, at any time, the operational functioning of ANEPC’s systems” – with SADO and other systems remaining “fully operational and accessible to all state entities, connected via private RNSI circuits”.
ANEPC has also guaranteed that there is “no impact on operational response capacity, or civil protection coordination.”
Meantime, IPMA meteorological institute has been warning of the effects of depression Francis which, from tomorrow, will be bringing a lot more rain to central and southern regions, “particularly the Algarve, where it could be accompanied at times by thunder”.
Francis brings strong winds, “with gusts of 70-80 kms/ h along coastal districts, and 100 kms/ h on high ground – particularly in the centre and southern regions”.
The wind will be a feature until Saturday, “weakening gradually”, say IPMA sources.
As for temperatures, these will increase slightly from tomorrow (Friday), and then drop again from Sunday.
Sources: LUSA/ SIC
