Supermarket freezers in Belgium and Sweden hit by suspected cyber-attack
Supermarkets in Belgium, Sweden, and Ireland have been targeted by a cyber-attack that compromised refrigeration systems. The incident caused significant food spoilage, with some freezers being remotely set to extreme temperatures.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing vulnerability of critical infrastructure and IoT-connected commercial systems to malicious cyber-attacks.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google James Gregory AFP via Getty Images Freezers have had to be emptied at several ICA grocery stores in Sweden after the cyber-attack Dozens of supermarkets in Belgium and Sweden have been hit by a suspected cyber-attack affecting its refrigerators and freezers.
Around 40 Delhaize supermarkets in Belgium and Luxembourg were affected, while several ICA and Coop shops in Sweden were hit. Thirteen SuperValu shops have also been impacted in Ireland.
Millions of euros worth of food has had to be thrown away, according to local media reports, with one ICA store in Sweden saying temperatures for its freezers had been set to 50 C (122F).
It is not clear who is behind the attack, which follows a similar incident last month that affected hundreds of French supermarkets.
Both Belgium and Sweden's national cyber-security agencies said they were monitoring the incident.
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