Cybersicherheit: US-Behörden warnen weltweit vor Angriffen auf Kühlanlagen

Cybersecurity authorities in the United States have issued a global warning about ongoing threats targeting cooling systems in supermarkets and other establishments. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Transportation released a joint statement on Thursday, detailing their concerns.

Brett Leatherman, head of the FBI's Cyber division, stated that these critical infrastructure systems are being targeted worldwide across various sectors. Chris Butera, acting deputy chief of CISA's cybersecurity division, emphasized that any organization reliant on cooling and monitoring systems should assume they could be targeted.

Successful attacks could alter temperatures, leading to fire hazards, product losses, and reduced system lifespan. Authorities advised organizations to isolate systems from the internet, change passwords, and replace outdated equipment. Since mid-October, cyberattacks have targeted cooling and freezing systems in supermarkets and food businesses across several European countries, including France, Belgium, Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, Estonia, Finland, and Germany.

In late November, French blood bank became a victim of such an assault. In the United States, multiple incidents are under investigation by US media. The EU Commission convened an emergency meeting. The identity of the attackers remains unclear at this stage.