Hackers targeted freezer systems holding blood plasma reserves in France overnight between November 1 and November 2, attempting to change their settings from -30°C to 110°C. Authorities said the temperature changes were detected quickly and corrected, with no confirmation that any blood stocks had to be destroyed.
The campaign targeted Coolworld, a supplier to the French Blood Establishment (EFS), which collects, prepares and distributes blood and blood products. Frozen plasma used for transfusions was among the supplies potentially at risk. It is not known how many facilities were affected, how long the disruption lasted or whether the freezers reached the temperatures set by the attackers.
France’s Ministry of Health said the incident had no serious operational consequences. Reports cited by Cyberattaque said the medical facilities themselves were not compromised; instead, the attack targeted third-party maintenance systems controlling freezer temperatures.
The incident follows an October warning from Vincent Strubel, head of France’s cybersecurity agency ANSSI, that refrigeration facilities, including those storing medical resources, could be targeted. In the UK, National Cyber Security Centre chief executive Richard Horne has also warned that weak technology and operational systems leave organizations and supply chains exposed, including refrigeration controls.
Sources: TechRadar.