By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Hackers have already targeted UK supermarket freezers, the head of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has warned, revealing that a suspected cyberattack caused temperature spikes in fridges and freezers across Europe.
Vulnerabilities Exploited Across Europe
Dr Richard Horne said artificial intelligence has enabled adversaries to easily find and exploit vulnerabilities in operational systems that have not been sufficiently invested in. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he urged businesses to keep technology up to date and secure. Supermarket giants in Belgium, Ireland, and Sweden were hit, with Swedish grocers ICA and Coop and an Ikea superstore reporting similar temperature increases; one store explicitly blamed a cyberattack.
Food Supply Chain at Risk
Horne said it was too early to attribute the attack to a state or criminal groups but warned that vulnerable technology across the food supply chain has been exploited. The NCSC has alerted a handful of UK organisations and is aware of a couple of impacts in Britain. Paul Chichester, NCSC director of operations, added that the centre is also aware of cyber attacks affecting the UK meat processing industry, though national impact is minimal.
NCSC Warns of AI-Driven Threats
The NCSC's annual report warns that hostile actors are highly likely to use AI to increase the scale and efficiency of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, including airports, hospitals, and power stations, within two years. Russia and China are expected to use AI more routinely in such operations, with Chinese cyber activity described as the most sophisticated and sustained challenge facing the UK.
Government Response
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting urged UK households to keep a stockpile of food for emergencies such as power cuts or flooding. A Downing Street spokesperson said the government takes the security and resilience of critical systems extremely seriously and is investing significantly in cyber defences.
