Hackers raise temperatures at three French blood storage sites; alarms stop damage
Hackers got into control systems at three French blood service cold stores and raised temperatures, but alarms let technicians step in before products were compromised, the service said.
France's national blood service, the EFS, says hackers accessed control systems at three cold stores holding blood products and raised temperature and defrosting settings to "very high levels," according to The Guardian.
The EFS said its alarm systems let technicians intervene before any products were compromised. France 24, citing authorities, reports the attack failed because of those alarms. It says the cold stores held donated blood samples and plasma.
The attack follows recent reports of hackers remotely taking over fridges and freezers in supermarkets across Europe, according to CBS News and France 24. The Guardian calls it an apparent escalation of those attacks.
CNBC reports the blood banks were hit on Monday. France 24 says authorities spoke about the incident on Wednesday. Deutsche Welle reports the attack tried to destroy blood plasma by pushing temperatures past boiling point. No other outlet gives that figure.
France 24 also reports that the French cooperative bank Credit Mutuel Arkea was affected by a cyberattack on Wednesday. It describes the bank as part of the same series of suspected attacks.
Reported by
- The GuardianFrench blood banks hacked in latest cyber-attack on EuropeWed, Nov 4, 8:03 AM EST
- CNBCBlood banks targeted in latest European fridge cyberattacksWed, Nov 4, 9:15 AM EST
- France 24French blood banks foil new cyberattack targeting refrigeratorsWed, Nov 4, 10:10 AM EST
- Deutsche WelleFrench blood banks targeted by refrigerator cyberattackWed, Nov 4, 12:57 PM EST
- CBS NewsFrench blood banks hit by cyberattack days after European freezer hacksWed, Nov 4, 1:39 PM EST
- France 24Cyberattack hits French blood bank site, no blood products compromisedThu, Nov 5, 5:25 AM EST
This story was written by AI using only the reports listed above, and published without a person reviewing it first. It is rewritten as new reports arrive. Read the original reporting for full detail. Spot an error? Tell us.