Blood banks in France were among cyberattacks that hit refrigeration systems in several European countries on Sunday and Monday, French authorities announced Wednesday.
The French Blood Establishment (EFS) indicated that a “cybersecurity incident” targeted a refrigeration service provider affecting the control systems of three refrigeration sites for plasma and blood samples.
The cyberattack attempted to raise temperatures to extremely high levels, but was repelled before any damage could be done. The plasma contained in the refrigerators concerned has been transferred or secured, specifies the EFS.
“No health consequences have been identified and no blood products have been lost,” indicates the EFS in a press release, specifying that its distribution operations have not been interrupted.
Hackers try to make blood boil
The cyberattack was first reported on Wednesday by the French weekly The Chained Duckwhich said temperatures had been timed to reach a boil of 110 C (230 F), rather than -30 Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit).
“Monitoring and alarm systems quickly detected anomalies, allowing staff to act to ensure that no blood products or samples were compromised,” EFS said.
France’s cybersecurity agency and health ministry said an investigation was underway, but did not say who might have been responsible.
The Health Ministry said on Wednesday that remote access to the affected refrigerators had been disabled and credited monitoring and alarm systems with ensuring the safety of blood supplies.
Coolworld, the company supplying the refrigeration equipment, said the vulnerability was linked to a component from a “third-party supplier and was beyond Coolworld’s direct control.”
European supermarkets targeted by cyberattacks
On Sunday and Monday, a cyberattack targeted supermarket refrigeration systems in several European countries, including France and Germany, destroying large quantities of frozen products.
This is reminiscent of a similar attack that occurred three weeks ago, targeting the refrigeration systems of dozens of French supermarkets.
The attacks cost supermarkets millions of euros in wasted food.
On Wednesday, Dutch supermarket chain Ahold Delhaize said it expects the October cyberattack to reduce its quarterly sales by up to 250 million euros ($281 million).
“While most of the disruptions were brought under control within two weeks, work continues to fully restore our normal operations,” CEO Franz Muller said.
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