German intelligence services investigate cyberattacks on supermarket refrigeration systems in Europe

Intelligence services take the investigation under control

Germany's intelligence services have joined the investigation into cyberattacks on cooling systems in European supermarkets. This was reported by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) in response to a request from the newspaper Handelsblatt. In addition to the counterintelligence service, the matter is being handled by the Joint Center for Countering Hybrid Threats (GAZ Hybrid), which includes representatives of the BfV, the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD).

What is known about the attacks

According to preliminary data from the BfV, the attackers used known vulnerabilities in control systems. A representative of the German Interior Ministry told Handelsblattthat manipulating control systems with the aim of destroying goods is a serious incident requiring detailed analysis; according to the newspaper's source, large companies and critical infrastructure operators are at particular risk.

Geography of the incidents

The attacks affected stores in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Bavaria. Later, cyberattacks on refrigeration units occurred in Belgium, Sweden, Ireland, Luxembourg, Estonia, Finland and the Netherlands, as well as in Italy and Portugal. In France, the cooling systems of blood banks were targeted, but the interference was detected in time.

Context

Gazeta.Ru also recalls that a wave of threats about bomb attacks on dozens of planespreviously swept across Europe. No connection between these incidents and the attacks on cooling systems is claimed in the publications — this is merely a sequence of events. Who is behind the attacks and the scale of the damage have not yet been reported by sources; the investigation continues.