France accuses Iran's IRGC of hacking supermarket fridges and freezers
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France has accused Iran of carrying out cyber-attacks that raised the temperatures of fridges and freezers in hundreds of supermarkets across the country. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said at a news conference that the attack was conducted by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), describing it as "unprecedented in both its scale and its level of aggression," and said France would implement sanctions at the European level against all those responsible. The attack last month spoiled fresh and frozen food estimated to be worth millions of euros; more than 100 Coopérative U supermarkets were hit, along with 180 Intermarché and Netto stores, with some fridge temperatures reportedly reaching 50C (120F) overnight. Last week, dozens of supermarkets in seven other European countries were also affected by a similar cyber-attack, though it is unknown whether the incidents are linked. Iran has not yet responded to the allegations. Separately, the Paris prosecutor said an investigation had been opened into the head of an IRGC-affiliated offensive cyber unit, named Shahid Kaveh, and his two deputies.
Source report
By: Ella Kipling
Fridges and freezers in hundreds of supermarkets across France were affected last month
France has accused Iran of being behind cyber-attacks that raised the temperatures of supermarket fridges and freezers.
Speaking at a news conference, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the attack was carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran.
He said the attack was "unprecedented in both its scale and its level of aggression", adding that the country would "implement sanctions at the European level against all those responsible for this attack."
Scale of the Attack
The cyber-attack last month saw fridges and freezers in hundreds of supermarkets across France heated up, which spoilt fresh and frozen food estimated to be worth millions of euros.
Then last week, dozens of supermarkets across seven other European countries were also impacted by a cyber-attack that targeted fridges and freezers. It is not known if the instances are linked.
Iran is yet to respond to Barrot's allegations.
Investigation Opened
Separately on Monday, the Paris prosecutor said an investigation had been opened into the head of an offensive cyber unit associated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as well as his two deputies.
Laure Beccuau named the unit as Shahid Kaveh, which she said had an affiliation with the electronic and cyber centre of the IRGC.
How the Attack Unfolded
On 11 October, hackers gained control of the software that regulates the temperatures of the refrigeration units used in many of France's supermarkets.
More than 100 of Coopérative U's supermarkets were hit, as well as 180 stores from Intermarché and its Netto brand. In some stores, temperatures of the fridges reportedly rose to 50C (120F) overnight.
Related Topics
- France
- Iran
- Cyber-attacks
Source
BBC NewsWestern
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France Accuses Iran's IRGC of Hacking Supermarket Freezers Across Europe