Overnight into Monday, November 2, refrigeration systems at dozens of supermarkets in seven European countries were changed remotely. Units were switched into defrost mode, and store managers in Sweden found freezers set to 50°C (122°F) that they could not change back. Stock had to be thrown away; one store in Belgium estimated €100,000 in lost produce.
It is the second wave in a few weeks. In October, a similar attack on internet-exposed refrigeration controllers hit around 700 victims in France.
Why it matters: many businesses run connected equipment — from refrigeration and HVAC to cameras and door access — on the same internet connection as everything else, often on old firmware.
One step today: list every device in your building that can be reached from the internet. Put it behind a firewall or VPN, and plan to replace equipment the maker no longer updates.
Want a second set of eyes on your network? Call (818) 791-0055 or visit contact VanquishNet.
Sources: BBC, The Record, BleepingComputer.