EFS Cold Storage Hacked in European Cyberattack Wave

Hackers remotely pushed temperatures higher at three cold storage sites belonging to the French Blood Establishment, EFS. The intrusion occurred as part of a wider campaign across Europe that has targeted refrigeration systems in hundreds of supermarkets. The attacks in Belgium, Sweden, and Finland have already caused food spoilage with estimated losses in the millions of euros.

The EFS confirmed on Wednesday that its own systems were not the direct target. Instead, the compromise involved cold storage units managed by outside providers. These units hold blood products awaiting delivery to hospitals, samples for biobanks, and frozen plasma used in transfusions and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The organization stated that temperature and defrost thresholds were set to excessively high levels by the intruders.

EFS surveillance systems detected the intrusion quickly. In some cases, affected equipment was brought back under control with no impact on the products inside. In other instances, the units were disconnected entirely to prevent further temperature drift. The blood service reported that no blood products or samples were lost during the incident.

As a precaution, samples were moved swiftly to other facilities. The EFS is now working with the French National Cybersecurity Agency, known as ANSSI, and the Ministry of Health. The organization has stepped up monitoring of its equipment to ensure stability across its regional network.

The French Health Ministry said the situation is currently under control and under close observation. Officials stated that the safety of blood supplies was preserved due to existing monitoring and alarm systems, along with immediate precautionary measures. The ministry noted that the infrastructure held up despite the remote manipulation of the control systems.

The incidents have drawn attention to the security of internet-connected industrial refrigeration equipment. This technology is widely used by retailers and medical facilities across the continent. Authorities have not publicly identified the group behind the attacks, leaving the source of the intrusion unconfirmed.

The EFS continues to coordinate with government agencies to review the incident. The organization maintains that its operations remain stable while it investigates the full scope of the impact on its supply chain. The next step involves a detailed review of the third-party vendor contracts that manage the affected cold storage units.