European Supermarket Freezers Hacked as Kremlin Denies Role

Supermarket refrigeration systems in several European countries were remotely compromised in a series of cyberattacks, causing retailers to discard spoiled food. The Kremlin denied any Russian involvement on November 5, while European authorities described the incidents as a deliberate effort to disrupt food supplies but did not identify a perpetrator. Reports described attacks over roughly three weeks affecting nearly 100 stores in at least 11 countries. In the latest wave, refrigeration units were remotely switched into defrost mode, with some temperatures reaching 55 degrees Celsius. Supermarkets in Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden reported problems. The attacks forced some stores to discard food, though accounts of the total losses varied in scope. Retailers reporting impacts included Delhaize, with about 40 stores in Belgium and Luxembourg affected, and Carrefour Belgium, which reported about 15 locations. Musgrave, owner of SuperValu in Ireland, said 13 stores were affected. Swedish chains ICA and Coop and German retailer Edeka also reported incidents. A common type of refrigeration controller made by Danish...