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French officials suspect that Iranian state-backed hackers were responsible for a series of cyberattacks targeting commercial refrigerators and freezers across France, according to people familiar with the investigation. The attacks disrupted businesses, damaged food supplies and raised concerns about the security of internet-connected equipment.
The first major incident occurred on October 11, when hackers reportedly took control of temperature settings in refrigeration units at hundreds of establishments. The attackers altered the controls, causing refrigerators and freezers to malfunction. Some incidents resulted in spoiled food and equipment fires, with potential financial losses running into tens of millions of euros.
Many affected units were either outdated or running older firmware, making them easier to compromise, cybersecurity experts previously told Reuters.
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A second wave of incidents this month affected more than 100 establishments across Europe. The targets included refrigeration equipment used by French blood banks, forcing staff to move stored blood supplies to alternative locations.
Authorities said monitoring systems helped detect the problems at the blood storage facilities. The response prevented damage to blood products and ensured that medical supplies remained safe.
Also Read: Europe-Wide Fridge Hacks Reach French Blood Banks
The French authorities are investigating the possibility of a connection between the attacks and Iranian cyber attacks that are conducted under the supervision of the state. In August, attacks on cooling systems of U.S. military commissaries were observed, with the Pentagon officials also viewing Iran as a possible culprit.
France and the United States are working together in order to investigate the connections, but no link was found between the two attacks yet.