Hackers Raise 3 French Blood Store Temperatures as Europe Refrigeration Attacks Spread to 12 Countries
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Nov 4
Hackers Raise 3 French Blood Store Temperatures as Europe Refrigeration Attacks Spread to 12 Countries
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Nov 4
Summary
Three French blood-product cold stores had temperature and defrost thresholds pushed to very high levels overnight Monday, but EFS alarms let technicians intervene before plasma and other supplies were damaged.
EFS said the hackers breached contractor-run control systems rather than directly targeting the blood service; affected products were moved, while ANSSI and the health ministry were alerted and monitoring was tightened.
The breach marks an escalation from supermarket attacks: refrigeration systems in nearly a dozen European countries have been hit this week, with temperatures reportedly reaching 50C and causing millions of euros in food losses.
EU agencies are in urgent talks with national authorities on a collective response, while investigators still have no claimed culprit or motive and experts say scenarios range from state-backed signaling to a lone hacker.