Cyber attack on French blood bank – canned food heated from minus 30 to 110 degrees

France's blood bank has been hit by a cyber attack on its cooling system, as have numerous European supermarkets. The French blood bank (EFS) said the cold rooms at three locations were affected.

The cooling systems provided by an external provider were manipulated remotely in such a way that the operating temperatures were increased to very high values. As the disclosure paper “Le Canard Enchaîné” reported, the temperature rose from minus 30 degrees to plus 110 degrees.

Thanks to the monitoring and alarm systems, the irregularities were quickly identified and measures were taken so that no samples or blood products were compromised, the blood bank emphasized. The relevant cooling systems were brought back under control or blood products were moved to other facilities as a precaution. The cold rooms would store blood products before they are delivered to health facilities, as well as samples for the EFS biobanks.

After a series of cyber attacks on refrigeration systems in European supermarkets, the police are also investigating several cases in Germany. In recent days, cybercriminals in Belgium, Sweden, Ireland, Luxembourg, Estonia, Finland and the Netherlands, among others, have ensured that refrigerators and freezers became warmer.