An overnight cyberattack has struck refrigeration systems in dozens of supermarkets across Ireland, Sweden and Belgium, forcing stores to discard chilled and frozen food.
Supervalu, one of Ireland's largest supermarket chains, has dumped chilled and frozen products from 13 stores so far, according to The Journal. Swedish grocery giant ICA says its refrigerators and freezers were remotely set to temperatures as high as 55°C.
Stores report damage and closures
The manager at the ICA Böda outlet was greeted by a puddle of water when clocking in this morning, SVT reported. Another location near Sundbergs in Mörlunda said it has also been impacted and will be 'closed until further notice'.
ICA Kvantum Sjöbo shared several photographs on Facebook showing dark freezer aisles. 'What shouldn't have happened has happened!' it said. 'Our refrigerators and freezers have been hacked during the night and they have set the temperature to 50°C. We are extremely sad and are working hard to get everything back up and running.'
ICA is investigating the incident, which it says has impacted a 'limited number of stores'.
Belgian retailers hit
In Belgium, freezers and refrigerators at dozens of Delhaize, Carrefour, Intermarché and Spar stores have also been cranked up, according to RTL Info. The attack began at around midnight, impacting the software that allows retailers to remotely defrost units.
Diego Louwers, manager of the Proxy Delhaize in Overijse, told the Belgian news outlet he arrived at 3.20am to find the freezers 'blowing out hot air'. 'The consequences are catastrophic because we have to throw away all of our merchandise that is no longer at the correct temperature. That is to say, all fresh and frozen products,' he said.
Delhaize reportedly sent a text to store managers at 4am to warn them that an 'IT incident' had impacted the cooling systems. In at least 40 locations, refrigerator and freezer temperatures reached around 15°C. Carrefour reported that 15 stores have been affected, with Intermarché and Spar at 15 and five sites, respectively.
Pentagon investigates suspected hack
Pentagon officials separately told Reuters that a wave of freezer malfunctions occurred at six military bases in August. Some bases saw cooling units stop working, while others had their temperatures increased to sweltering levels.
Fort Huachuca, Arizona, shared images on Facebook of empty chilled and freezer food aisles. 'Trust us when we say it was "spoiled",' it said.
The Pentagon, the headquarters of the Department of Defense, is treating the incident as a suspected hack. Officials are investigating whether it has any ties to a similar cyberattack on remotely controlled refrigerators in France last month.
