Supermarket refrigeration units across Europe have been warming unexpectedly, with temperatures in some cases climbing to 50C and resulting in food losses valued in the millions of euros, according to the Guardian. The Guardian reported the incidents, which stretched from Finland to Ireland, were caused by a series of cyberattacks rather than physical tampering. Because modern freezers are digitally connected, they can operate more efficiently, but that connectivity also creates exposure to remote interference. Russian hacktivists have claimed responsibility for some of the incidents, the Guardian reported, but attribution remains uncertain. Other possible actors mentioned include Iran, Iranian proxies, North Korea, or independent hackers operating from home. The Guardian noted that cyberattacks do not always originate from state-backed groups, citing the hack of Transport for London two years ago, which was carried out by two British teenagers. Governments routinely alert retailers and other businesses to cyber risks and provide defensive training, the Guardian reported. Experience with expensive ransomware incidents has also pushed many large organisations to strengthen protections around payment and logistics systems. Elisabeth Braw, a Swedish security expert and author of The Undersea War: The International Battle for Supremacy at the Bottom of the World, wrote in the Guardian that such greyzone acts are intended to create panic and that Europe must demonstrate resilience in response.
Source: The Guardian.
