A wave of cyberattacks has hit supermarket cooling systems in some European countries, causing freezing temperatures to rise to 50 degrees Celsius. Italian authorities have launched investigations, while allegedly behind the attacks could remain pro-Russian hacker groups.
The Italian government has announced that no risks to consumer health have been found so far. The attacks have been recorded in France, Belgium, Sweden, Luxembourg, Estonia, the Netherlands, Ireland and Italy. The first case was reported on October 12th in France, while similar incidents were later recorded in other European countries.
Through interventions in temperature – control electronic systems, hackers have caused supermarket freezes to reach temperatures of up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit [50 ° C] in a few hours, risking the conservation of food products.
Italian police specialising for cybercrime are investigating events, which are suspected of being part of a co-ordinated operation designed to cause economic damage and to affect the functioning of important sectors in some European countries.
According to investigators, similarities between the incidents and the way their realisation raise doubts that the attacks may have been organised and carried out synchronizedly.
One element that has attracted the attention of the authorities is the lack of financial compensation requirements or extortion efforts. And so far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Thus, investigators are considering the possibility that incidents will be linked to so – called hybrid warfare, which includes using cyberattacks to cause disruptions of services, economic damage, and destabilisation.
Among the investigative tracks is the possible involvement of pro-sector groups, although responsibility for the attacks has not yet been determined.
After the incidents spread, the National Agency for Cyber Security in Italy has asked supermarket operators, transportation and food storage companies, as well as businesses managing industrial cooling systems, to strengthen security measures.
The agency has recommended using virtual private networks for distance connections and avoiding direct internet exposure to systems that control industrial equipment.
Authorities have also raised concerns that similar attacks could lie in other strategic sectors as well.
In a statement published by the Italian prime minister, Palazzo Chigi, it is known that so far no cases have been recorded that pose public health risks as a result of melting frozen products.
According to the government, any consistent abnormalities were reported by the National Agency for Cyberetic Security specialised Karabiniers’ health protection units with a view to timely intervention.
The statement was published after a meeting at the headquarters of the Italian government, attended by Prime Minister Alfredo Mantovano, Agriculture Minister Francesco Lolobrigida, head of the National Agency for Cyber Security and intelligence services management.
Italian authorities have stressed that the situation remains under constant monitoring and that they are co-operating with representatives of the sectors affected to prevent other incidents.
Source Layer: Insander
