Supermarkets in Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Sweden have recently been targeted by cyber attacks that have caused problems in the refrigeration systems of these stores. These attacks occurred following a similar attack in France three weeks ago, where hackers infiltrated supermarket refrigerators, causing temperatures to rise to a level that spoiled fresh and frozen food.
Details of the Attacks on Monday
In the incident on Monday, Swedish supermarket chains ICA and Coop announced that "a limited number" of stores have been affected. Helena Johansson, a spokesperson for ICA, stated that the company is investigating the extent of the incident. Carlos Casino, a spokesperson for Coop, told AFP that some refrigerators and freezers are either completely out of order or have been partially damaged. He noted that six out of approximately 800 Coop stores in Sweden have been affected and that they have not received information indicating that this issue is due to a cyber attack.
Investigations and Social Consequences
The Dutch supermarket chain Ahold Delhaize also reported that a "IT incident" overnight affected the freezers of several stores in Belgium and Luxembourg. In Ireland, the public broadcasting network RTE reported that 13 supermarkets have been affected. The chains Carrefour, Intermarche, and Spar have also been targeted by these attacks. Mich Vergauwen, a spokesperson for Carrefour Belgium, stated: "This is a cyber attack, and there is no other explanation." The Belgian prosecutor's office has launched a criminal investigation into this attack.
Impact on Food Security in Europe
Christophe Hansen, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, described these attacks as "a deliberate attempt to disrupt the food supply in Europe," adding that "although food security is not currently at risk, food waste and the impact on businesses are real." He also emphasized that these incidents demonstrate that cyber attacks can disrupt services and have a direct impact on the daily lives of citizens.
Review of Security Vulnerabilities
Following these incidents, the Swedish National Cyber Security Center announced that it is investigating vulnerabilities in operational technology devices in the country. John Bilo, the head of the center, said: "We have identified in recent weeks that a large number of operational devices in Sweden are at risk and need to be updated or repaired." These vulnerabilities include everything from refrigerators and heating systems to security cameras and alarm networks. These devices, which were previously predominantly mechanical, are now often monitored and controlled remotely, providing new opportunities for cybercriminals.
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