US government warns of ongoing cyber threat to refrigeration systems

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 23:27 · Archive

US federal agencies warn of cyberattacks targeting internet-connected refrigeration units in supermarkets, military bases and healthcare facilities.

US federal agencies have issued a joint warning of an ongoing cyber threat targeting internet-connected refrigeration and cold chain monitoring systems. The warning follows a wave of cyberattacks across Europe in recent weeks that remotely altered temperatures in commercial freezers and fridges at grocery stores and cold storage facilities.

CISA, the FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Agriculture and Department of Transportation warned that successful attacks could cause fire hazards, loss of inventory and damage to affected systems. The agencies said hackers are exploiting vulnerabilities in unpatched systems or those connected to the internet. One attack targeted a blood bank in France, raising temperatures in refrigerated units containing donated blood supplies, though it was stopped before blood stores were compromised. The Department of the Army is investigating refrigeration outages at six US military bases in August.

The agencies did not specify whether refrigeration systems have been successfully targeted in the US. They urged businesses to tighten security by changing passwords, disconnecting system devices from the internet and installing software updates. Chris Butera, acting executive assistant director for cybersecurity at CISA, said every organisation depending on refrigeration should assume it could be a target.

How it is being reported

• Feds warn of potential cyberattacks on industrial refrigeratorsAfter a wave of attacks in Europe, U.S. officials are warning of "ongoing" cyber threats targeting refrigeration systems used in healthcare, agriculture and other industries.CBS News · 5 Nov, 23:15
• U.S. government warns of ‘ongoing cyber threat’ amid mass-hacks of industrial retail and military freezersA joint U.S. government statement says the hacks are affecting the food, transportation, and healthcare industries after reports of global mass-hacks.TechCrunch · 5 Nov, 18:48

In this story: US government · CISA · FBI · Danfoss · France · Europe · United States

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