Hacker-Attacke: Cyberangriffe auch auf Kühlanlagen deutscher Supermärkte

Recent cyberattacks on refrigeration systems in German supermarkets have raised concerns about the vulnerability of digital infrastructure, with police investigating multiple incidents across the country. In several regions including North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, criminals allegedly hacked into refrigerators, raising temperatures and causing significant damage to affected stores.

In Wuppertal, Wetter near Hagen, and the Münsterland area, police claimed that refrigeration systems were likely targeted by hackers, leading to spoiled food and forced disposal. In Lower Saxony, a Supermarkt in Lilienthal near Bremen also faced a temporary shutdown, with stored goods and deep-freeze units heating up to 30 degrees Celsius due to a potential hacker attack.

The cost of damages in Wuppertal amounted to over 360,000 euros. Cybercriminals have been targeting refrigeration systems in several European countries, including Belgium, Sweden, Ireland, Luxembourg, Estonia, Finland, and the Netherlands, as per a Belgian refrigeration service provider. The attack in October targeted several major French food retail chains and involved a technology service provider.

The Cybercrime division of the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office took over the investigation. Supermarkets operated by the Arbeiterwohlfahrt (Worker's Welfare) association in NRW, including one in Wetter-Volmarstein, also fell victim to hackers. The primary culprit was reportedly the company responsible for managing the refrigeration systems remotely.

In Wuppertal, large quantities of spoiled food were found, indicating that hackers had artificially raised the temperature of the refrigeration systems from outside. The attack occurred over the weekend, and was discovered on Monday morning. Another supermarket in Raesfeld, Münsterland region, also faced a cooling failure, prompting an investigation into whether a hacker attack was the cause.

German Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger (CDU) called for increased efforts to protect digital building and operational technology, citing previous calls from the Federal Office for Information Security. Wildberger emphasized that the recent cyberattacks highlight the growing significance of cybersecurity, stating that all companies, including government entities, must take more precautions.