New cyberattack targets French blood banks

A cyberattack affected cold-storage monitoring and control systems at three regional sites run by France’s national blood service, the French Blood Establishment (EFS). The incident was contained before any blood products or samples were damaged, but it raised concern about the security of refrigeration systems that protect essential medical supplies.

The attack took place on 2 November and affected equipment supplied by a refrigeration provider. Alarms alerted staff, who took precautionary measures; the Health Ministry said blood supplies remained safe and the situation was under control. Investigators are examining how the systems were accessed and what equipment was affected, as the incident followed cyberattacks on supermarket refrigeration systems in Europe.