A cyberattack targeting refrigeration systems at three French blood bank sites attempted to raise storage temperatures to extremely high levels, but was detected and thwarted before any blood products or samples were compromised, French authorities said.The incident on Monday targeted a supplier of refrigeration equipment used by the French Blood Establishment (EFS), which oversees the country’s blood collection and distribution network.The attack accompanies a wider wave of cyberattacks on refrigeration systems across Europe, with supermarkets in several countries reporting spoiled food after hackers remotely tampered with their fridges and freezers, causing losses worth millions of euros.The EFS said in a statement late Tuesday that temperature and defrosting thresholds at three of its plasma storage sites had been raised to extremely high levels. However, monitoring and alarm systems quickly detected the irregularities, allowing staff to intervene before any damage was caused.“No health consequences have been identified, and no blood products were lost,” the EFS said.In a statement to Sky News, the EFS said the incident had affected a limited number of its sites and that further technical information from its service provider would help establish its full extent.It said monitoring and alarm systems had rapidly detected the changes in the cold-room systems, allowing staff to protect stored blood products and samples.The EFS said it could not yet comment on the origin of the incident or identify those responsible, adding that all products and samples in the affected equipment had been secured or transferred as a precaution.The affected facilities stored plasma bags intended for transfusions as well as plasma used in the manufacture of medicines. All products and samples were either secured or transferred to other facilities as a precaution, it said.The EFS said its blood collection and distribution operations remained uninterrupted, ensuring continued supplies to hospitals and healthcare facilities. It has also stepped up monitoring of refrigeration equipment across its network.France’s national cybersecurity agency, ANSSI, and the health ministry are investigating the incident.
