“Portugal keeps up with international indicators,” but regarding the identification of cryptocurrency mining episodes “it is above the international average,” Microsoft said.

Cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin, for example, include any digital currency used in a transaction with no connection to a bank or financial institution.

The US technology company released on Monday the 24th Microsoft Security Intelligent Report with the leading national and international cybersecurity trends.

According to Microsoft, the ransomware attacks have declined in Portugal in the last year and phishing remains the “preferred attack vector.”

Ransomware is a type of malicious software (malware) created to block access to files or systems of devices, requiring the payment of a value (a ransom) to regain access.

Phishing is to use technological methods that lead the user to disclose personal and/or confidential data, usually accompanied by spam messages sent to several users.

According to Microsoft, ransomware attacks are declining, cryptocurrency mining has increased, software supply chains are at risk and phishing remains the preferred attack method. These are the “four major global cybersecurity trends for 2019” identified by the company.