Supermarkets in multiple European countries have been hit by a new wave of cyberattacks targeting their refrigeration systems. The attacks have caused temperature spikes, resulting in spoiled food and disruptions to store operations.
What happened
The incidents occurred in Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Estonia, with several major supermarket chains affected. The attacks follow a similar incident in France last month, in which hackers seized control of cooling units at hundreds of supermarkets.
According to reports, the attackers switched the refrigeration units to defrost mode, causing temperatures to rise as high as 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The affected stores have been forced to discard spoiled food and take steps to secure their systems.
The European Commission has highlighted the incident as an example of how digital threats can affect people's everyday lives. The continent is already on high alert due to security concerns related to Russia's war in Ukraine.
Authorities have not indicated who might be behind the attacks, and there have been no claims of responsibility. The incident has prompted an investigation by Sweden's national cybersecurity center, which has warned of the need to update or patch exposed operational technology devices.
