UK also affected by cyber-attack which hit European fridges
Businesses in the UK's food supply chain have been impacted by the cyber-attack which hit supermarket fridges and freezers across Europe on Monday.
Businesses in the UK's food supply chain have been impacted by the cyber-attack which hit supermarket fridges and freezers across Europe on Monday.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) says it is aware of The NCSC's chief executive Dr Richard Horne told the Today programme, on BBC Radio Four, that it had worked through the night to alert potentially affected organisations in the UK.
The British Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has told the BBC some of its more than 300 members had unexpectedly become what it called collateral as part of the hacks..
It comes after supermarkets in countries including Ireland, Sweden, Estonia, and Belgium reported fridges being hiked in temperature on Monday.
Those attacks exploited vulnerabilities in some systems used to remotely control and manage cold refrigeration units that had been surfaced by cyber-security researchers months prior.
But he said it pointed to an urgent need for organisations and businesses to ensure the technology underpinning a whole range of applications we use and need daily was secure and up-to-date.
Horne said, noting many firms had extended systems beyond their end of life, not upgraded them nor kept them in secure compartments disconnected from the internet.
Such actions can create vulnerabilities that many cyber-security experts say amounts to low-hanging fruit for hackers, and can be easily exploited.
But the UK's cyber chief said that they could be found and exploited more quickly and easily via AI in the hands of our adversaries.
What happened
Businesses in the UK's food supply chain have been impacted by the cyber-attack which hit supermarket fridges and freezers across Europe on Monday.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) says it is aware of The NCSC's chief executive Dr Richard Horne told the Today programme, on BBC Radio Four, that it had worked through the night to alert potentially affected organisations in the UK.
The British Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has told the BBC some of its more than 300 members had unexpectedly become what it called collateral as part of the hacks..
What changed
It comes after supermarkets in countries including Ireland, Sweden, Estonia, and Belgium reported fridges being hiked in temperature on Monday.
Those attacks exploited vulnerabilities in some systems used to remotely control and manage cold refrigeration units that had been surfaced by cyber-security researchers months prior.
Who is affected
But he said it pointed to an urgent need for organisations and businesses to ensure the technology underpinning a whole range of applications we use and need daily was secure and up-to-date.
Horne said, noting many firms had extended systems beyond their end of life, not upgraded them nor kept them in secure compartments disconnected from the internet.
Why it matters
Such actions can create vulnerabilities that many cyber-security experts say amounts to low-hanging fruit for hackers, and can be easily exploited.
But the UK's cyber chief said that they could be found and exploited more quickly and easily via AI in the hands of our adversaries.
Attribution
BBC News: Businesses in the UK's food supply chain have been impacted by the cyber-attack which hit supermarket fridges and freezers across Europe on Monday.
What to watch next
Watch for additional victim details, indicators of compromise and follow-on exploitation reports.
Watch for revised vendor guidance, fixed versions and mitigation updates.