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Israel issues cyber warning to supermarket chains following attacks in Europe

November 2, 2021: from the i24 news:

"Israel’s National Cyber Directorate on Monday issued an urgent warning to supermarket chains, food companies and logistics centers, calling on them to immediately secure their refrigeration and freezer systems against potential cyberattacks.

"The warning comes following a sudden wave of cyberattacks across Europe, during which hackers reportedly gained remote access to supermarket temperature-control systems, manipulated cooling settings and activated defrost cycles, causing large quantities of food to spoil.

"The attacks reportedly resulted in significant financial losses and operational disruptions, with some incidents also causing damage to equipment and fires.

"In response, Israel’s National Cyber Directorate has urged companies to take immediate precautions to protect their refrigeration infrastructure from similar attacks.

"The directorate recommended ensuring that control systems are not directly connected to the internet, replacing default passwords and updating outdated systems to address potential security vulnerabilities.

"Companies were also advised to secure remote access using multi-factor authentication and install independent alert systems capable of detecting unusual temperature changes.

"Additionally, the directorate has asked companies to report the results of their security checks, as well as any suspicious activity, to Israel’s National Cyber Directorate hotline."