Hackers target industrial refrigerators, spoiling food worldwide

NPR investigated a series of cyberattacks targeting the digital devices controlling industrial refrigerators, revealing significant vulnerabilities in operational technology, according to reports from Aspen Public Radio, KSMU, and KUNC. These attacks have caused physical damage to refrigeration equipment, including broken compressors and spoiled food, leading to operational shutdowns lasting over a week while waiting for replacement parts.

The attacks involved malicious code found on corporate computers designed to erase internal data, compounding the disruption. An engineer discovered smoke emanating from industrial freezers, confirming the physical damage caused by the cyber intrusion.

Omri Segev Moyal, head of the Israeli incident response firm Profero that responded to the attacks, attributed the cyberattacks to Iranian military hackers known as the Cyber Isnaad Front. This group has also been linked to influence campaigns targeting U.S. elections in 2024. The attacks occurred during a tense ceasefire period between Iran and Israel.

These cyberattacks have been reported on U.S. military bases in August, French supermarkets in October, and various food stores ranging from small markets to large retailers like IKEA in countries including Sweden, Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium in early November.

Experts warn that these incidents demonstrate how bad actors with access to AI are increasingly able to breach and control aging machines critical to global infrastructure, such as water pumps and cooling systems. This highlights the urgent need for governments and companies to address long-standing cybersecurity challenges to prevent further damage and disruption.