Possible cyberattacks have caused temperatures in grocery store refrigeration systems to rise across Sweden, Belgium and Luxembourg. John Billow, head of Sweden’s national cybersecurity centre, confirmed on Monday that the centre is responding to multiple incidents affecting store cooling systems.
Store operators ICA and Coop said the temperature of freezers at several Swedish stores rose suddenly overnight. Coop later told a Swedish newspaper that six of its stores had been affected by similar incidents.
Freezer temperatures climb at Swedish stores
A spokesperson for privately held ICA said a limited number of its stores were affected by an overnight incident that impacted refrigeration and freezer systems. One Swedish store said in a social media post that its fridges and freezers had been set to the same temperature seen during the cyberattack in France.
Ahold Delhaize stores in Belgium and Luxembourg
A Belgian news agency reported overnight temperature increases at dozens of Ahold Delhaize stores in Belgium and Luxembourg. The increases were blamed on a cyberattack, according to Stephan Moelans, chief executive of refrigeration company Sabcobel.
A supermarket chain spokesperson earlier said an “IT incident” had affected its fridges and freezers, and the company is investigating. Ahold Delhaize reported a cybersecurity incident to Dutch police last month.
Earlier attack on French supermarket fridges
The cyberattack on refrigeration systems at hundreds of French supermarkets raised temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122F). The heat spoiled food and caused fires at several stores.
