Cyberattacks have hit supermarket refrigeration systems in Sweden, Belgium, Estonia and other countries
A wave of cyber-attacks has compromised the control systems of refrigerators in supermarkets across Sweden, Belgium, Estonia, Luxembourg and Ireland, causing serious disruption and food wastage
An alleged cyber-attack targeted the refrigeration systems of a number of supermarkets in various European countries during the night between Sunday and Monday, raising fears of a hacker attack similar to the one that took place in France on 12 October.
A sudden rise in temperatures in the fridge and freezer units to 50 degrees caused the refrigeration systems at numerous supermarkets in Sweden belonging to the Ica and Coop chains to malfunction overnight. The shops remained closed in the early hours of this morning whilst the crisis was being dealt with: the refrigerated sections were emptied, but the products inside had been irreparably spoiled and had to be discarded.
Cyberattacks on refrigeration systems in large retail outlets have also reached Belgium, with several outlets belonging to the country’s main chains affected, including Delhaize, Carrefour, Spar and Intermarché. According to reports from the Belga news agency, disruptions have also been reported at an Ikea store.
Estonia, Luxembourg and Ireland have also been hit by cyber-attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems: according to the Estonian public broadcaster ERR, hackers gained access to the control system of a major supermarket chain and remotely raised the temperature of a freezer to +50°C. Jann Mutso, CEO of Kitman Coldtech, reported that several customers in Estonia had been targeted.
