Technology1 min read

FBI warns of freezer hacking attacks in Walmart, Target: 6 things retailers must do

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The FBI is alerting cold storage operators and food retailers after hackers altered freezer temperatures at supermarkets across five European nations. Federal investigators are now coordinating with French authorities to determine if August freezer malfunctions at six U.S. military commissaries were connected to this campaign. Threat actors typically infiltrate these vulnerable systems by exploiting internet-exposed controllers that lack security patches or still use default login credentials.

Key points

  • Attackers compromise cold storage units by exploiting internet-connected controllers oper…: Attackers compromise cold storage units by exploiting internet-connected controllers operating without firewalls or updated default passwords.
  • Facilities must remove sensitive electronic controllers from the public internet and secu…: Facilities must remove sensitive electronic controllers from the public internet and secure vendor access behind robust firewalls.
  • Retailers should configure automated emergency alerts and establish strict safe temperatu…: Retailers should configure automated emergency alerts and establish strict safe temperature limits to prevent inventory spoilage.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

The FBI has warned American grocery stores and cold storage facilities to lock down their refrigeration systems, following a wave of cyberattacks in Europe where hackers remotely raised freezer temperatures and ruined store inventories. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) by the FBI Cyber Branch, the agency said it is tracking malicious cyber activity targeting industrial refrigeration and cold-chain monitoring systems worldwide. These electronic controllers are used across critical infrastructure to keep food, medicine and other temperature-sensitive goods safe.

The warning comes just days after supermarkets in France, Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg and Estonia were hit by remote hackers who raised fridge and freezer temperatures, forcing stores to throw out spoiled food. Hackers also recently targeted refrigeration components at three foreign blood service facilities – an attack that failed only because proper alert systems were in place.

Read FBI cyber branch’s warning

The @FBI and our partners are seeing malicious cyber activity targeting industrial refrigeration and cold-chain monitoring systems around the world. These systems help keep food, medicine, and other products at safe temperatures and are widely used across critical…

Technology

More in Technology