Shop freezers hit in cyber attack across seven European countries
Refrigeration systems disrupted
Sabcobel said the attack changed the evaporators in some refrigerators to defrost mode, allowing temperatures to rise. The company believes the method resembles an incident last month that affected hundreds of French supermarkets.
Freezer temperatures in some European shops reportedly reached 50C (122F). Many supermarkets use internet-connected systems, which can be maintained and troubleshot remotely.
Stores report spoiled food
Several ICA grocery stores in Sweden had to empty freezers after the attack. An employee at a Stockholm ICA store was pictured discarding bags of spoiled food, and the company said it was helping affected stores manage the situation.
Colruyt Group, which runs Spar stores in Belgium through a franchise system, said five shops had their refrigeration systems attacked. In Finland, malfunctions were detected in some K-stores, while shops in Ireland, the Netherlands and Estonia were also affected.
Investigation crosses borders
Sabcobel chief executive Stephan Moelans told the Belga news agency on Monday that the incident was a cyber-attack. He said the company had worked overnight and into the morning to disconnect affected units from its network.
US authorities are investigating refrigeration failures at several military bases in August. They are working with French officials to examine whether those events could be connected.
Key points
- Refrigeration equipment in shops across seven European countries was disrupted by a cyber-attack.
- Some freezers reportedly warmed to 50C (122F), and Swedish stores discarded spoiled food.
- Sabcobel said affected units had been switched into defrost mode and were being disconnected from its network.
- The UK reported no cases, while authorities in the US are examining separate refrigeration failures.