A new cold war: hackers target fridges across the globe - NPR
Hackers have launched cyberattacks on refrigeration systems worldwide, spoiling food and disrupting businesses across multiple countries.
The attacks began in Israel, where employees at a large food production plant discovered their printers were spewing threatening messages, corporate computers contained malicious code, and industrial freezers had broken compressors, causing food to spoil. The company's operations halted for over a week while engineers awaited replacement parts from abroad.
I do a lot of cyber incidents, but this is the kind of incident that I know will leave a mark on the people in charge.
According to forensic data and claims from the perpetrators, Israeli cybersecurity firm Profero attributes these attacks to Iranian military hackers operating under the name Cyber Isnaad Front, the same group linked to influence campaigns targeting U.S. elections in 2024. The attacks occurred during heightened tensions between Iran and Israel.
Global Spread
Since the initial attacks in Israel, similar incidents have spread worldwide. In October, French supermarket chains Intermarché and Cooperative U were targeted, affecting 150 to 200 Intermarché stores and nearly 100 Coopérative U outlets, causing refrigerators to defrost. In early November, attacks hit food stores from small markets to big box retailers like IKEA in Sweden, Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
U.S. military bases also experienced attacks in August. Cybersecurity experts note that these attacks appear to follow a pattern: first targeting Israel, then being tested in Europe and the U.S., before being unleashed more broadly.
We're observing targeted attacks gradually built and practiced against Israel, tested in Europe and the U.S., and unleashed [now].
Infrastructure Vulnerabilities
These attacks highlight the growing risks of connecting industrial equipment to the internet. Hackers with access to AI are increasingly targeting aging machines that run critical infrastructure, including water pumps and cooling systems. As more devices become connected, they become vulnerable to both accidents and deliberate attacks.
The consequences extend beyond food spoilage. Cybersecurity experts warn that future attacks could target temperature-sensitive drugs and laboratory materials, potentially creating public safety risks.
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