Blood banks targeted in latest European fridge cyberattacks

Italy convened emergency security discussions with intelligence officials on Tuesday in response to cyberattacks targeting supermarket freezer systems in nine European nations. The EU has warned of an intentional effort to disrupt the food supply chain following the recent incidents. Supermarkets in Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden experienced refrigeration issues that caused some retailers to discard perishable goods.

The EU's food and agriculture commissioner, Christophe Hansen, emphasized the seriousness of these attacks, stating they are deliberate attempts to undermine consumer confidence in the food supply chain. Italy's cabinet undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano convened a government meeting with intelligence chiefs and the National Cybersecurity Agency, which provided technical guidance to retailers to safeguard their systems.

Giovanni Arena, a representative of a large retailers' association, reported around 20 stores affected in Sicily. Coop supermarkets in Sicily, managing 300 stores, estimated the damage at several thousand euros, discarding entire stock due to the cyberattack. The affected refrigeration equipment was connected to outdated 4G networks, prompting the Coop chain in Sweden to launch a program to modernize its network to 5G, aiming to prevent similar issues in the future.

Belgian authorities investigated the cyberattacks, with multiple grocery chains, including Carrefour and Delhaize, reporting disruptions. Ikea experienced a cyberattack in Belgium as well, causing freezers to malfunction. Finnish authorities noted that cyberattacks were expected following incidents in France, with vulnerabilities being actively exploited.