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UK cyber officials identify attacks on refrigeration systems used by organisations
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) says it knows of a couple of cases in which vulnerable technology used by UK organisations was exploited in attacks on refrigeration systems. The incidents follow reports of supermarket fridges being remotely turned up in several European countries, raising concerns about the security of systems that manage essential services and everyday business operations.
NCSC chief executive Richard Horne said the centre had worked overnight to alert potentially affected organisations, and that it had identified a couple of impacts. Similar incidents were reported in Ireland, Sweden, Estonia and Belgium on Monday, after attacks in France in early October affected hundreds of stores and spoiled food worth millions of euros. The attackers exploited weaknesses in remote refrigeration controls that researchers had identified months earlier; who was responsible remains unclear.
In short
- UK organisations were affected by attacks on refrigeration technology.
- European supermarket fridges were turned up remotely.
- The NCSC chief urged businesses to update and secure ageing systems.
Explained simply
Refrigeration systems in shops and other organisations can be managed remotely using connected computers and controls. If those systems have security weaknesses, attackers may be able to interfere with how they operate.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is the UK body that helps organisations deal with cyber threats. Its chief executive is Richard Horne. The reported incidents concern technology used by UK organisations, while similar cases have been reported in several other European countries.
Refrigeration is important for keeping food and other goods at safe temperatures. Disruption can lead to spoiled stock and financial losses, and the incidents have drawn attention to the security of connected systems used in everyday business and essential services.
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Originally published by BBC Technology as “UK also affected by supermarket fridge hacks, cyber chief says”.