A cyberattack that could have jeopardized the supply of blood products to patients has hit France. Hackers have interfered with the control systems of the National Blood Service's refrigerators, attempting to increase the temperature from minus 30 degrees Celsius to 110 degrees.
The attack occurred during the night of November 1-2 and targeted the company Coolworld, responsible for the refrigeration equipment of the French blood institution (EFS).
According to the French newspaper Le Canard Enchaîné, the perpetrators managed to remotely change the temperature parameters in the refrigeration installations. In three centers, blood samples, plasma for transfusions and products intended for the production of medicines were stored.
The intrusion was detected by alarm systems after a technician noticed an increase in temperature. Personnel intervened by securing and moving the endangered products.
French authorities confirmed that the attack did not cause any loss of blood products and that transfusion services are continuing normally.
But the incident raises serious concerns about the security of healthcare infrastructure. Through a cyber attack, perpetrators could interfere not only with patients' data, but also with the physical devices that store vital products for their treatment.
The attack comes after a wave of similar interventions in supermarket refrigeration systems in several European countries, where temperature changes caused damage to large quantities of food and financial losses.
The French cybersecurity agency and the Ministry of Health are investigating the incident. So far, the perpetrators and motives for the attack have not been identified.
