{
  "id": 19369851,
  "title": "After fridge hacks, home appliances could be next, EU cyber chief warns",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/after-fridge-hacks-home-appliances-could-be-next-eu-cyber-chief-warns",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-10T17:36:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3373993/after-fridge-hacks-home-appliances-could-be-next-eu-cyber-chief-warns"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The EU's cyber chief has warned that home appliances could become a target for cyberattacks following recent incidents involving supermarket refrigerators. Juhan Lepassaar, executive director of the EU's cybersecurity agency ENISA, spoke in Brussels on Tuesday, urging Europe to invest more in countering increasing cyber threats. Supermarkets in at least 12 European countries were struck by cyberattacks in October and November, with France being the hardest hit. The attacks caused refrigerators and freezers to overheat, leading to significant losses for many retailers.\n\nLepassaar emphasized that security should not be an afterthought, stating that cyber incidents can be avoided with proper investment. He urged manufacturers to design products with security in mind, noting that cybersecurity is not inexpensive. Cybersecurity is vital, Lepassaar explained, as it protects crucial services such as emergency responders, hospitals, and transportation systems. He warned that a worst-case scenario could lead to the failure of these essential services, having an immediate impact on daily life.\n\nWhile Lepassaar did not comment specifically on France's accusation that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was responsible for the supermarket cyberattacks, he acknowledged that Iranian and Russian state-aligned actors are known to target Europe. He pointed to a \"lot of collaboration\" between these actors and highlighted China, Iran, and North Korea as frequent targets of state-aligned threat actors.\n\nLepassaar welcomed the forthcoming EU cyber rules, which will take full effect next year, and the bloc's plans to double the size and resources of ENISA. However, he emphasized that these measures, while a positive step, would never be sufficient on their own, stating that more investment is necessary to effectively combat the growing cyber threats.",
  "summary": "After recent attacks on supermarket fridges, home appliances could be next, the EU’s cyber chief said on Tuesday, as he urged Europe to invest more to counter growing cyber threats. Supermarkets in at least 12 European countries were hit by cyberattacks in October and November, with France the worst affected. “Security should not and cannot be an afterthought,” Juhan Lepassaar, executive director…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "After fridge hacks, home appliances could be next, warns EU cyber chief",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/after-fridge-hacks-home-appliances-could-be-next-warns-eu-cyber-chief",
        "published": "2026-11-10T17:07:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}