THE UK has been hit in the latest cyber attack targeting fridges and freezers across Europe, the National Cyber Security Centre confirmed.
The country’s top cyber chief Dr Richard Horne has backed Government warnings for Brits to stockpile essentials, adding “it’s your life, choose wisely”.
The NCSC is urgently warning British retailers to update the software on fridge temperature controls.
Some UK meat suppliers were among those throwing out products as temperatures in fridges and freezers were raised to as high as 55C across Europe.
Hackers disabled temperature alarms before overriding thermostats, so store managers were unaware until it was too late.
Technology executives in Estonia and Belgium said the latest hack has the “same signature” as a similar attack a few weeks ago, exploiting outdated systems.
It’s now been confirmed that a “handful of organisations in the UK” have also been affected.
Dr Horne, CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, told BBC Radio this morning: “There is a handful of organisations in the UK that we’ve alerted and we’re aware of a couple of impacts, we think.
“We don’t know the full impact, but we do know there are a couple of instances where vulnerable technology has been exploited and we’re working with those organisations.
“We’ve been working through the night alerting organisations where we see they’ve got exposed technology that is vulnerable.”
Speaking about who could be behind the latest attack across Europe, he added: “It’s too early for us to say.
“We just don’t know if it’s a state or if it’s criminals, it’s a genuine unknown. It’s not just supermarkets, it’s through the whole food supply chain.”
It comes after the Government warned for all UK residents to stock up on essentials in case a national crisis cuts them off from essential services.
The advice covers preparation for everything from storms to cyber-attacks and power blackouts.
Asked if it reinforces warnings from the Defence Secretary that people in the UK should stockpile, Dr Horne said: “Absolutely. And we saw criminal attacks last year impact retailers in the UK.
“We alert people. We intervene where we can. But, at the end of the day, it’s your business. It’s your charity. It’s your life. You need to make the choice and choose wisely.”
He added: “Technology underpins everything we rely on in our day-to-day life, not just computer systems.
“That technology base has not been invested in as it needs to be. Systems aren’t being upgraded or being kept in secure environments disconnected from the internet.
“This leads to vulnerabilities which AI in the hands of our adversaries allows them to exploit them.”
The latest hack is thought to have impacted 60 shops in Belgium, 13 in Ireland, and more than a dozen in Sweden.
The Netherlands, Finland, Estonia and Luxembourg have also been hit.
Tony Goodger from the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, said today: “Our view is that the hackers have decided to target European Supermarkets and a few of our 300+ members who operate the same software have unexpectedly become ‘collateral’ within the hack.
“We urge our members and the wider industry to be vigilant.”
A few weeks ago, up to 700 French stores were hit as coolers were overridden and heated up to 50C in a similar hack.
Both cyber attacks have exploited outdated software in temperature control systems, setting them to “defrost mode” remotely, The Times reported.
EU agriculture commissioner Christophe Hansen called the latest attack “a deliberate attempt to disrupt” the food supply chain.
Jake Moore, an adviser at cybersecurity firm ESET, urged the UK Government to take it as a “warning shot”.
He said that retailers and public bodies — including the emergency services — could be left wide open to similar “catastrophic sabotage” if they rely on outdated technology or fail to update their systems regularly.
He added: “Cybercriminals are constantly improving techniques, using the latest technology, including AI, to find ways into systems and create mass disruption.”
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will today accuse Labour of failing to protect Britain from modern digital warfare.
Dr Horne previously warned there is a real prospect of “when food isn’t on shelves, lights aren’t on, businesses have gone under” amid an “unprecedented” rise in hacking.
A new NCSC report warns Russia, China and Iran will routinely use artificial intelligence to achieve their political goals.
He claimed it is not because AI has invented new ways to attack us, but “because vulnerabilities that have been tolerated for far too long can now be discovered and exploited at a scale that was once unimaginable”.
Security minister Dan Jarvis said: “In their tenth year, the National Cyber Security Centre plays a more important role than ever before, defending our security on the cyber front line.
“NCSC’s latest annual report shows cyber threats are growing more sophisticated.
“We’re using the power of AI to help stay ahead of those who seek to do us harm, with a new National Cyber Shield and an AI Cyber Security Centre of Excellence.”
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