Cyberattack carried out on supermarket refrigeration systems in several European countries

Dozens of supermarkets across Europe have become the target of a suspected cyberattack, which affected the operation of refrigerators and freezers. Incidents were recorded in Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Estonia. At the same time, Tabula writes that seven countries were affected as a result of the cyberattack. 1TV+2

In Belgium, approximately 40 Delhaize supermarkets were affected, as well as at least 15 Carrefour stores, five Spar facilities, and the meat product manufacturing company De Laet en Van Haver. In Ireland, the temperature of refrigerators in 13 SuperValu stores was changed, and in Estonia, one of the Selver stores was affected. The Belgian company Sabcobel, which manufactures some of the refrigerators, stated that the evaporators of the devices were switched to defrost mode, which caused them to heat up. According to another source, hackers broke into the temperature control system and raised the temperature to 50°C, while citing Euronews, Rustavi 2 writes that the temperature even reached 70°C. 1TV+2

Information regarding the loss is different: according to 1TV, it became necessary to discard products worth millions of euros, while according to information from Rustavi 2, stores had to discard products worth approximately 100,000 euros. 1TV+1

According to the media, the same method was likely used as on October 12 in France, when the refrigeration systems of hundreds of supermarkets were damaged. According to research by the cybersecurity company Forescout, it is possible to connect refrigeration system control units to the internet, which allows for remote control, but at the same time increases risks. 1TV+1