Food Safety AlertsIreland
Hacked Cold Rooms Force 13 Irish Stores To Bin Chilled Food
A cyber incident hit fridges in 13 SuperValu stores. Chilled and frozen food was pulled. Here is what kitchens can learn.
In Short
- Musgrave, which runs SuperValu, said 13 Irish stores had a fridge cyber incident.
- Chilled and frozen food was taken off sale as a precaution.
- Musgrave says the problem was limited to one model of refrigeration equipment and is now resolved.
- Stores in six other European countries reported similar fridge problems.
- An expert advises changing default logins and keeping software up to date.
On Monday, Musgrave said a cyber incident hit the refrigeration in 13 of its SuperValu stores. Stores in Blanchardstown, Lucan and Waterford were named.
Chilled and frozen food was removed from sale as a precaution. Musgrave said its own monitoring found the problem and that it is now fully resolved.
Shops in six other countries also reported fridge trouble, including Belgium, Sweden, Finland and Estonia. In France last month, attackers raised the set temperature of hundreds of supermarket fridges, in some cases to 50C.
Any internet-connected device needs security measures suited to protecting it from attack.
Many shops let suppliers reach their cooling systems over the internet to check faults. That link can also be an opening for attackers. France's cyber agency advised operators to remove direct internet exposure and to secure remote access.
Security expert Brian Honan said the Irish case sounds similar to the French ones, though Musgrave has not confirmed a link. He advised changing default login details and keeping software updated.
What Does This Mean For Your Restaurant?
If your walk-in cold room or fridge alarm is connected to the internet, ask your supplier how it is protected. Check that logins are not the factory ones, and keep a thermometer log so you can spot a warm unit and prove what you discarded.
Sources
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