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New cyberattack on supermarket fridges sweeps across Europe
Reuters • • world
Key Points:
- A cyberattack on European supermarkets disrupted refrigeration systems across countries including Sweden, Belgium, and Ireland, causing food spoilage and forcing stores to discard products.
- The attack targeted fridge and freezer temperature controls, with some affected units using technology from Danish firm Danfoss, which is working on fixes with customers.
- Similar incidents occurred in France last month, raising concerns about hybrid threats to critical infrastructure amid heightened security tensions in Europe since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, though no group has claimed responsibility.
- Experts suggest these attacks may be sabotage rather than financially motivated extortion, exploiting vulnerabilities in increasingly connected retail control systems that are difficult to trace.
- European authorities and businesses emphasize the seriousness of these disruptive cyber threats to the food supply chain and consumer confidence, calling for increased vigilance and response measures.
