Food spoiled after mass hacks targeting freezers in grocery stores; France blames Iran, blood banks spared | TechCrunch
Refrigeration systems targeted
Two waves of attacks in October and into November targeted web-based controllers managing industrial cold and chilling units. Hackers remotely accessed systems at grocery stores and retail supermarkets, then raised temperatures in the units.
France names Iran’s guard
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Monday that responsibility lay with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He described the incident as an attack of “unprecedented scale and aggression.” Barrot said the hacks would “not go without consequences.” France has summoned Iran’s ambassador, and the government said it would issue European-wide sanctions against those responsible. The matter is now with the French justice system.
Security and U.S. inquiries
Security researchers have warned that the web-based controllers are vulnerable to remote hacking. Some affected models made by Danish company Danfoss no longer receive security fixes.
Key points
- France says Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was responsible for the attacks.
- Hackers raised temperatures in grocery and retail refrigeration units, spoiling goods.
- Blood bank attacks were stopped before any blood was spoiled.
- France summoned Iran’s ambassador and plans European-wide sanctions.