Internet refrigerators hit by temperature attacks in Europe and US bases
Original title: The Fridge-Hacking Spree Is an Internet-of-Things Wake-Up Call
Widespread attacks on exposed refrigeration controllers raised temperatures in blood banks and supermarkets across Europe and US military bases; systems were quickly detected and no data was altered.
Three sites handling blood and plasma in France were briefly impacted when cold rooms were raised to very high temperatures on November 2. Similar incidents affected supermarkets in 11 European countries and US military bases. Attackers exploited unpatched Danfoss refrigeration controllers exposed to the internet. Blood samples were not damaged due to alarm systems and staff intervention. The incidents are under investigation with possible ties to Russian or Iran-linked actors. Danfoss urged firmware updates.
Unconfirmed: Whether the attacks are all connected or carried out by multiple actors; Russian hacktivists claimed responsibility without credible evidence
- EFS confirmed high temperature in blood storage cold rooms
- Supermarket chains in 11 European countries reported food spoilage
- US military bases on at least six commissaries affected in August
- Pentagon investigating incidents in collaboration with French law enforcement
- Danfoss systems running outdated firmware vulnerable to authentication bypass
Impact: Temperature spikes in blood and food storage systems
- 1.Upgrade to patched firmware versions
- 2.Disconnect internet-connected refrigeration controllers
- 3.Monitor cold storage systems for temperature anomalies
- Vendors
- Danfoss
- Products
- refrigeration controllers
- Organizations
- EFSPentagonInstitute for Security and Technology
- Countries
- FranceUnited States
From the original article
3 min read at wired.com
Escalating hacks affecting blood labs and grocery stores show the very real risks to critical infrastructure that come from basic security lapses involving internet-connected devices.
By Lily Hay Newman, Matt Burgess · wired.com
A short excerpt; the article and its images belong to the publisher. Summary, key facts and assessment above are AI-written from the article and can be wrong.