Second Cyberattack Raises Supermarket Freezer Temperatures in Belgium and Sweden

Hackers have struck supermarket freezers in Belgium and Sweden in a second recent cyberattack, raising temperatures to 50 degrees Celsius and destroying food stocks, Bloomberg reports. The attack targeted supermarkets owned by Dutch outfit Ahold Delhaize and ICA and Coop locations in Sweden. Hackers remotely raised temperatures in online-controlled freezers, rapidly defrosting contents and likely destroying millions of dollars worth of items.

Belgium impact

Belga News Agency reports that a cyberattack targeting refrigeration units at Belgian supermarkets started on Sunday night at around midnight. Sabcobel, a refrigeration fitter in the region, estimates that at least twenty units are affected across Belgium. Affected supermarket chains include Delhaize, Carrefour, and Spar. As in the previous attack, hackers remotely activated the freezer's built-in defrost mode, overriding the temperature and time spent defrosting. CEO Stephan Moelans said that while the company has been working very hard to protect its fridges against the vulnerability, physical modifications to its units are required. The company says switching units to a secure internet connection is the simplest solution in the meantime, a measure carried out by most of its customers after the France attack.

Sweden impact

Supermarkets ICA and Coop are reporting similar disturbances in Sweden. Aftonbladet reports refrigerators and freezers have been struck in several ICA and Coop stores. Pictures show staff throwing out shopping carts full of goods. Ica Kvantum wrote on Facebook that they are extremely sad and working hard to get everything back up and running.

Broader concerns

The attack is the second such instance in just a few short weeks. It is a worrying reminder that many of society's most basic functions and infrastructure are heavily reliant on internet connectivity, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks. The increase in cyber intrusions into the physical world also seems to be commensurate with the proliferation of AI agents, which continues to heavily impact global cybersecurity. In October, a hacker suspected of using AI agents stole the data of 25,000 customers from banks in South Korea. Officials at the time commented that AI models mean actors can hack with ease even without specialized skills.

Earlier coverage: Cyberattack Forces Supermarket Fridges Into Continuous Defrost Cycle Across Europe · Copeland Named as Second Refrigeration Supplier Hit in French Supermarket Hacking Spree

Sources: Tom's Hardware