European supermarket chains face cyberattacks targeting refrigeration systems
Supermarket chains in Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Estonia report cyberattacks that remotely altered the temperatures of commercial refrigeration units.
Major grocery retailers across Europe are investigating a series of cyberattacks that compromised store refrigeration and freezer systems. These incidents involved unauthorized access to facility management networks, allowing attackers to remotely adjust temperatures, leading to significant inventory spoilage.
Swedish retailers, including Ica Kvantum and Coop, confirmed that unauthorized actors gained access to their control systems. In one instance, reported temperatures in freezer units reached 50 degrees Celsius, rendering goods unsellable. The pattern of attacks suggests a targeted effort to disrupt operations by exploiting connected infrastructure.
These events underscore the growing cybersecurity risks facing the retail sector as supply chain and facility management systems become increasingly digitized. Affected retailers are currently conducting audits to secure their network perimeters and prevent further unauthorized manipulation.