06.11.2026 10:10
The FBI and CISA warned against cyberattacks targeting cooling systems worldwide where food, blood, and medicines are stored. It was reported that while the cooling systems of three blood centers in France were interfered with, hundreds of supermarkets in Europe were also affected by the attacks. It was stated that hackers tried to switch the devices to heating mode remotely, while authorities called for critical systems to be disconnected from internet access.
This time, cyberattacks worldwide did not target computers and bank accounts, but refrigeration systems that ensure the safe storage of food, blood products, and medicines. On November 5, the FBI and CISA in the United States issued a joint warning announcing that internet-connected temperature control devices used in supermarkets, cold storage facilities, and healthcare institutions were being targeted by attackers. Officials reported that the attacks could cause not only financial losses but also fire hazards and consequences that could affect human health.
CYBERATTACK ON THREE BLOOD CENTERS IN FRANCE
On November 2, a cyberattack affecting refrigeration systems occurred at three facilities affiliated with Établissement Français du Sang (EFS), France's national blood service organization. It was announced that the attackers did not directly breach the blood centers' systems but infiltrated the infrastructure of a company providing services for refrigeration equipment.
During the cyberattack, the temperature and defrost settings of the cold rooms where blood products were stored were changed. It was stated that, especially in systems storing plasma products, attempts were made to raise the temperature to dangerous levels.
However, when alarm systems were triggered, staff intervened quickly. It was announced that no blood products were lost while blood products were moved to safe areas, and that there was no disruption in healthcare services.
THEY SWITCHED REFRIGERATORS TO HEATING MODE
The most striking aspect of the attacks was that hackers could remotely control refrigeration devices and change temperature settings. It was reported that cyberattackers activated the defrost function on some devices and tried to switch some systems into a continuous heating cycle.
According to experts, this method can cause spoilage of products that need to be kept cold, damage to devices, and in some cases fire hazards.
The FBI and CISA stated that the attackers particularly exploited control devices that had not received security updates, had default passwords unchanged, or had been left directly exposed to the internet.
HUNDREDS OF SUPERMARKETS AFFECTED IN EUROPE
It has emerged that the cyberattacks also spread to supermarket chains in Europe. In October, refrigeration systems of hundreds of supermarkets in France were tampered with, while new attacks were recorded in the first days of November in Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and other European countries.
In some supermarkets, the temperature of refrigerators rose to as high as 50 degrees. As a result, some of the chilled and frozen products on the shelves were destroyed. The incidents were reported to have caused damage amounting to millions of euros.
At businesses affected by the attacks, some refrigeration devices were completely disabled, while some stores took emergency measures to prevent product losses.