The French blood collection service confirmed that its refrigeration units were affected by cyber attacks. These attacks coincided with those on supermarket refrigeration units in the European Union, although the blood supply was not impacted.
Details of the Cyber Attacks
The French Blood Agency (EFS) announced on Tuesday that monitoring and control systems for refrigeration units at three of its centers were affected, causing temperatures and thawing thresholds to rise to very high levels. EFS emphasized that the organization was not the direct target of the cyber attacks and that no blood samples or products were harmed.
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Connection to Attacks on Supermarkets
This incident appears to be linked to a new wave of cyber attacks on supermarket refrigeration units in Europe, which has led to the disposal of spoiled food. This wave occurred just weeks after French supermarkets were also targeted in a cyber attack that affected their refrigeration units.
Reports from French media indicate that the cooling company Coolworld is a supplier for EFS. The company stated in a release that it is aware of the incident and that it relates to a component supplied by a third-party supplier, which is not directly controlled by Coolworld. Additionally, only a limited number of the company’s units were affected.
In the attacks on supermarkets, the thawing settings of refrigeration units were manipulated, causing temperatures to reach very high levels, similar to the experience with EFS. The stored blood in the affected equipment, which included plasma bags needed for blood transfusions, has been “transferred or secured.”
France's Digital Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, announced today in the Senate that the recent attacks on the country’s refrigeration units “have directly targeted our economy and supply chain.” He added that “the aim of these attacks may potentially be to undermine national unity and create anxiety among the population.”
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