Hackers breach French blood bank's refrigeration system, trigger temperature surge

Hackers accessed the temperature controls of Coolworld's refrigeration units serving France's national blood bank and raised the temperature of the storage rooms to 110 °C overnight on Sunday. The French Blood Establishment (EFS) said an on-duty technician noticed the abnormal rise and alerted the organization, averting broader disruption. The most affected area was the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, though the health ministry reported no impact on patients and no loss of plasma.

The incident follows a series of attacks on refrigeration systems across Europe. In the United Kingdom, a wholesaler supplying organic food retailers reported that hackers took control of six of its ten cold-room units, setting temperatures to 66 °C. British cyber-security officials from the National Cyber Security Centre warned food companies of similar vulnerabilities.

Other retailers hit by the attacks include grocery chains in France, about 40 Delhaize supermarkets in Belgium and Luxembourg, and stores in Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, Estonia and Finland. A Swedish furniture retailer reported that in-store fridge units were set to 80 °C, leading to spoiled food and financial losses.

France’s CERT-FR, part of the National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (ANSSI), issued an alert on 12 October about the hacks and advised companies to secure remote access to refrigeration equipment. ANSSI director-general Vincent Strubel told a senate hearing on 21 October that medical refrigerators in laboratories, pharmacies and health facilities are also at risk from cyber threats.