Europe's fridges are getting hacked. Could America be next?
Summary
Suspected cyberattacks disrupted supermarket refrigeration systems in several European countries, raising temperatures, spoiling food and causing financial losses. Attackers targeted internet-connected systems that control multiple units remotely, and U.S. supermarkets use similar technology; the Pentagon is investigating suspected attacks involving refrigeration at six military commissaries.Key Facts
- Supermarkets in Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden reported cyberattacks or IT disruptions.
- Ahold Delhaize and Colruyt reported incidents in Belgium and Luxembourg, while ICA and Coop reported disruptions in Sweden.
- A Belgian company said hackers switched refrigeration units used by Delhaize into defrost mode.
- An ICA supermarket in Sweden said hackers raised refrigerator and freezer temperatures to 122°F.
- Attackers can target remote-control systems for multiple units by exploiting software flaws or stolen login details.
- Some affected refrigeration systems in the Netherlands used default passwords and connected to unsecured networks.
- French attacks in October caused fires and food losses; some supermarkets reported losses exceeding €130,000.
- The Pentagon is investigating suspected cyberattacks involving refrigeration systems at six U.S. military commissaries.
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