Hackers attempt to raise blood bank freezer temperature to 230 degrees in France

Hackers targeted cold storage monitoring systems at three regional blood banks in France, attempting to raise freezer temperatures from -22 degrees Fahrenheit to 230 degrees, the French health ministry reported.

The French Blood Establishment (EFS) said staff received alerts and quickly moved blood supplies to unaffected refrigerators, preventing any compromise of blood products or samples, according to humanevents.com and the New York Post.

The attack focused on units storing plasma used for transfusions and medicine manufacturing. Remote access to the refrigerators was disabled to regain control, the health ministry stated.

This incident occurred amid a broader wave of cyberattacks on cold storage units across Europe, affecting supermarkets in Belgium, Estonia, Sweden, and Luxembourg, where freezers were hacked and groceries spoiled.

The swift response by blood bank staff ensured the blood supply remained intact, highlighting the importance of monitoring and rapid action during cyber threats to critical healthcare infrastructure.