Cyberattack carried out against refrigeration systems of supermarkets in Europe
Cyberattacks on the refrigeration systems of supermarkets in France, Germany, and other European countries have led to the spoilage of food products and the risk of losses amounting to millions of euros.
In several European countries, the refrigeration and freezer systems of supermarkets have been subjected to cyberattacks. As a result of these attacks, temperatures in the cooling units at some stores rose, rendering food products unfit for use and causing financial losses to the businesses.
In early November, operational issues with cooling systems were reported in supermarkets across Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands. Preliminary assessments suggest that cybercriminals interfered with the remote control systems of the refrigeration units, altering their operating parameters.
The Coop supermarket chain in Sweden reported that the issue affected six of its stores. A company representative stated that normal operations for the refrigeration and freezer units have since been restored. However, the identity of those responsible for the attacks has not yet been determined.
In Belgium, the situation was more widespread. Cooling systems were disrupted at various locations belonging to supermarket chains such as Carrefour, Delhaize, Colruyt, and Intermarché. Carrefour confirmed that the issue affected 15 of its approximately 700 stores in the country. The Belgian public prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the incident.
It is reported that 13 SuperValu stores in Ireland, owned by the company Musgrave, have also been affected by the cyber incident. Meanwhile, in Estonia, reports have emerged that temperatures in the refrigeration units of at least one supermarket rose to as high as 50 degrees.
Christophe Hansen, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, has described the events as a cause for serious concern. According to him, such attacks may be intended to disrupt the functioning of Europe’s food supply chain and undermine consumer confidence.
It should be noted that a similar incident occurred in France in October. At that time, the refrigeration systems of hundreds of supermarkets were tampered with, resulting in the destruction of a large quantity of food products. These recent events have further heightened concerns regarding the digital security of the food sector in Europe.
At present, it is not known which individuals or groups are behind the attacks. Investigations are ongoing.