Supermarkets in Belgium, Estonia, Luxembourg, and Sweden reported on Monday that they are experiencing issues with their refrigeration and freezer systems, which appear to be the result of a cyber attack. This incident is similar to a cyber attack in France that occurred three weeks ago, where an unknown group targeted refrigeration systems, causing fresh and frozen food to spoil.
Situation of Supermarkets in Sweden
In this incident, Swedish supermarket chains ICA and Coop announced that "a limited number" of their stores have been affected. Helena Johansson, a spokesperson for ICA, stated that the company is investigating the extent of the problem. Carlos Casino, a spokesperson for Coop, also mentioned that six out of approximately 800 Coop stores in Sweden have been affected, adding: "I have not received information indicating that this is a cyber attack."
Attacks on Other Chains
The Dutch supermarket chain Ahold Delhaize also reported that an "IT incident" affected the refrigeration systems of several stores in Belgium and Luxembourg last night. The chains Carrefour, Intermarche, and Spar have also been targeted in this attack. Mick Vergauwen, a spokesperson for Carrefour in Belgium, stated: "This is a cyber attack... there is no other explanation."
The Belgian prosecutor's office has launched a criminal investigation into this attack. The disruption, which occurred on October 12, led to the disposal of spoiled products and raised renewed concerns about food security.
The ICA Kvantum branch in Sjobo, in southern Sweden, reported that the temperature in their systems remotely increased to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). John Bilo, head of the National Cyber Security Center of Sweden, announced on Monday that his department is investigating the matter and added: "We have recently identified that a large number of operational technology devices in Sweden are at risk and need updates or patches."
These "at-risk" devices include refrigerators, heating systems, security cameras, and alarm networks that are increasingly monitored and controlled remotely, creating new opportunities for cybercriminals.
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