Why Is Everyone Connecting Fridges to the Internet?
Supermarkets are going digital—and getting hacked.
Grocery stores in Europe have been plagued by hackers who have remotely accessed and compromised the fridges and freezers, leading to spoiled food. This issue has spread to at least seven more countries, including Estonia, Belgium, and Sweden. The hackers have caused millions of dollars worth of food to be ruined, with temperatures reaching as high as 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
The devices are typically password protected, but they are easy to crack with brute force attacks, allowing hackers to gain control and alter the temperature. The main issue is that many fridges and freezers are connected to the internet, making them vulnerable targets. While the home fridge may have more convenience features, industrial fridges in supermarkets, logistics, and shipping containers have a different calculus.
These large-scale refrigeration units are crucial for maintaining temperature ranges, and their internet connectivity allows for remote management and predictive maintenance. The consequences of a refrigeration unit going down can be severe, leading to food loss and supply chain disruptions. Despite the risks, food businesses have not prioritized cybersecurity due to tough margins, making them laggards in adopting advanced technology.
The food chain is vast, with almost three-quarters of the American diet passing through refrigeration. The lack of awareness about the scale and complexity of refrigeration infrastructure has led to a lack of investment in cybersecurity. As policymakers push for food traceability, the digitization of the cold chain brings both benefits and risks, highlighting the need for increased security measures.
Written by urgent.news from The Atlantic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
