Hackers raise temperatures at French blood bank cold stores, but officials say no samples were compromised
Summary
Hackers targeted France's national blood service, accessing control systems and raising temperature and defrosting thresholds to "very high levels" at three cold stores holding donated blood samples and plasma, according to reports from 4 and 5 November. The French Blood Service (EFS) said its alarm systems let technicians intervene before any products were compromised, and officials said no samples were affected. POLITICO reported the incident appears connected to a recent wave of cyberattacks on supermarket fridges and freezers across Europe, which warmed after being remotely taken over. Semafor reported the attack came amid mounting fears of AI-enabled cyberwarfare. France 24 also reported that the cooperative bank Credit Mutuel Arkea was affected on the same day. No group has been named as responsible in these reports.
Timeline
Euronews
Source ↗Euronews reports that a cyberattack hit French blood banks, but officials say no samples were compromised, and notes it follows supermarkets in several European countries reporting that their fridges and freezers were remotely taken over and warmed up.
The Guardian
Source ↗The Guardian reports that France's national blood service said hackers accessed control systems and raised temperature and defrosting thresholds at three cold stores, and that alarm systems let technicians intervene before products were compromised.
POLITICO
Source ↗POLITICO reports that the fridge hacks hitting French blood banks appear to be connected to a recent wave of cyberattacks on supermarket refrigerators across Europe.
CNBC
Source ↗CNBC reports that French blood banks were hit by cybersecurity attacks on Monday, with hackers raising temperatures in refrigerators storing blood.
NDTV
Source ↗NDTV reports that French Blood Service refrigeration systems were targeted in a cyberattack, and that blood products remain secure.
France 24
Source ↗France 24 reports that authorities said on Wednesday that a cyberattack targeted three cold stores containing donated blood samples and plasma, that it was unsuccessful thanks to alarm systems, and that Credit Mutuel Arkea was also affected.
Channel NewsAsia
Source ↗Channel NewsAsia's headline reports that French blood banks were hit alongside a cyberattack on European supermarkets; the article has no summary text.
Semafor
Source ↗Semafor reports that hackers targeted France's national blood service amid mounting fears of AI-enabled cyberwarfare.
France 24
Source ↗France 24 reports, citing French authorities, that a cyberattack on several blood banks tried to raise temperatures to extremely high levels but was thwarted before it could damage any blood products or samples.
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