UK food supply chain affected by European freezer hack, cyber chief says

The UK's food supply chain was impacted by a cyber-attack targeting supermarket fridges and freezers across Europe on Monday, according to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The NCSC's chief executive, Dr Richard Horne, revealed that the organization had alerted potentially affected organizations in the UK, working through the night to do so.

The British Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) reported that some of its 300+ members experienced unexpected disruptions. While no meat was lost, the incident serves as a reminder for businesses throughout the supply chain to remain vigilant. The attacks followed a series of breaches in France in early October, affecting hundreds of stores and resulting in millions of euros worth of spoiled food.

The hack exploited vulnerabilities in systems used to remotely control and manage cold refrigeration units, which had been previously identified by cyber-security researchers. Horne emphasized the need for organizations to ensure their technology is secure and up-to-date, noting that many companies have extended systems beyond their end-of-life, failed to upgrade, or neglected to secure them from internet exposure.

He stressed that the underlying technology we rely on daily requires investment and renewal to prevent hackers from easily exploiting vulnerabilities. Despite the UK not experiencing any impact yet, Horne called on businesses to take responsibility for their own security, as the government can only intervene to a certain extent.