Suspected cyber-attack affects supermarket freezers in seven European countries
Sabcobel CEO says units were switched to defrost mode, causing temperatures to rise as food losses are reported.
Dozens of supermarkets in seven European countries have been targeted by a suspected cyber-attack that impacted their refrigeration and freezer systems, according to BBC News. The affected nations include Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, Estonia, and Finland.
Sabcobel CEO Stephan Moelans told the Belga news agency that the incident was a cyber-attack. He stated the company worked through the night to disconnect the impacted units from the network. Moelans noted that the units' evaporators were switched to defrost mode, causing temperatures to rise as high as 50C.
In Belgium, approximately 40 Delhaize supermarkets were affected. A Delhaize branch in Hoeilaart told the news website Het Laatste Nieuws that it lost €100,000 worth of produce. Carrefour said 15 of its Belgian stores were impacted, while a spokesperson for Colruyt Group, which operates Spar stores under a franchise, told Reuters that five shops were attacked.
The attack also hit 13 SuperValu supermarkets in Ireland, according to a spokesperson for the Musgrave Group, who said the incident affected a specific refrigerator model. In Sweden, seven Coop stores were affected, while an ICA branch in Sjöbo reported on social media that temperatures were set to 50 degrees.
In the Netherlands, a spokesperson for manufacturer Danfoss told NOS that at least 17 companies were attacked. In Estonia, a Selver supermarket was affected, with reports of other companies being impacted according to ERR. The owner of the Kesko supermarket chain in Finland said security experts are investigating the cause.
National cyber-security agencies in Belgium and Sweden are monitoring the situation. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre said it is working with international partners and industry to understand the details, though no incidents have been reported in the UK.