The key facts

  • The groups Noname057(16) and Z-Pentest claimed responsibility on social media
  • Monday's attacks affected food companies in several European countries
  • A criminal investigation has been opened in Belgium

What happened

Two pro-Russian hacker groups — Noname057(16) and Z-Pentest — claimed responsibility for recent attacks on European refrigeration systems, reported on Wednesday the Italian broadcaster Rai. The statement was published on social media, where journalists from the Italian outlet spotted it.

The hackers' statement and its consequences

In their post, the groups said they had 'simply used integrated systems' and added that their reach extends to water supply systems, power plants, industrial facilities and food storage sites. According to them, they dealt a 'crushing blow' to Danfoss and Dixell Web equipment, and similar incidents affected 'hundreds of sites across Europe'. Earlier on Monday, suspected cyberattacks on refrigeration systems hit food companies in several European countries, causing food losses and prompting a criminal investigation in Belgium. The claimed scale of the attacks ('hundreds of sites') comes from the groups themselves and has not yet been confirmed by independent sources in available publications.