Temperature increases have been reported in the cooling systems of dozens of stores across the continent, weeks after a similar attack in France caused fires and food losses.<\/p>\n
Suspected cyberattacks have triggered temperatures to rise in grocery store refrigeration systems in a growing number of countries across Europe.<\/p>\n
Overnight temperature spikes were recorded in stores in Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg and Sweden. On Monday, retailers and authorities pointed to alleged cyberattacks that underscored the vulnerability of systems that once largely operated mechanically.<\/p>\n
Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list<\/p>\n
The head of \u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060Sweden\u2019s national cybersecurity centre, John Billow, confirmed on Monday to the Reuters news agency that the centre \u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060is responding to \u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060multiple incidents affecting store cooling systems.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have in recent weeks \u2026 identified that we have quite a lot of exposed operational technology devices in Sweden that we have been clear about the necessity to update or patch,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The temperature of freezers in several Swedish stores rose suddenly overnight, store operators ICA and Coop said, while Swedish retailer Axfood said freezers at a distribution centre for home delivery of groceries in the Gothenburg area were hacked.<\/p>\n
SuperValu, Ireland\u2019s third-largest supermarket chain, \u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060said a specific model of refrigeration systems has been affected by a \u201ccyber incident\u201d at 13 of its 223 \u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060stores.<\/p>\n
The Belga news agency reported overnight temperature increases at dozens of \u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060Ahold Delhaize stores in Belgium and Luxembourg. They were blamed on a cyberattack, according to the chief \u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060executive \u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060\u2060of refrigeration company,\u2060 \u2060\u2060\u2060Sabcobel.<\/p>\n
Stephan Moelans said the units\u2019 evaporators were switched to defrost mode.<\/p>\n
Also in Belgium, five Spar shops had their fridge systems attacked, said a spokesperson for Colruyt Group, which operates the franchise system.<\/p>\n
In Estonia, at least one supermarket chain was affected, technology supplier Kitman Coldtech told public broadcaster ERR.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is very fresh, it happened this morning,\u201d Kitman\u2019s CEO Jann Mutso said, without naming the affected chain.<\/p>\n
Ahold Delhaize reported a cybersecurity incident to Dutch police last month.<\/p>\n