How hackers are turning grocery store freezers into heaters
By hijacking built-in defrost controls, attackers have spoiled millions of euros’ worth of food across Europe. U.S. military bases may have been hit, too
Hackers are hijacking supermarket freezers' built-in defrost controls to turn them into heaters, causing millions of euros' worth of food spoilage across Europe. In October, French grocery stores were hit, followed by attacks in Belgium, Sweden, the Netherlands, Ireland, Estonia, Finland, and Luxembourg in November. These attacks mirror similar freezer failures at U.S. military bases in August, which the Pentagon suspects were carried out by hackers.
When freezers heat up instead of cooling, food spoils rapidly, making it difficult to salvage. Researchers say this type of attack is far more detrimental than simply cutting power, as it significantly reduces the window for food preservation. Retailers have reportedly lost millions of euros in produce and frozen goods. The hackers target the evaporators, where liquid refrigerant turns into gas, heating them through a defrost cycle to prevent frost buildup.
These freezers run online controls that are often seen as "dumb" and easily exploited. It's unclear who's behind the attacks, as no one has claimed responsibility or demanded ransom. Experts recommend updating outdated equipment, securing them with better firewalls, and limiting their internet connectivity, though doing so may limit their benefits.
Written by urgent.news from Scientific American's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
