By Islam El-Sakka
Two Russian hacktivist groups have claimed responsibility for a wave of cyberattacks that disrupted supermarket freezers across Europe, but cybersecurity experts remain skeptical of the assertion.
Groups claim coordination and skill
Noname057(16) and Z-Pentest Alliance posted on Telegram that they collaborated on the attacks, boasting of a "high level of skill and precision." Their posts and channels have since been deleted, and researchers are analyzing evidence from honeypot traps to verify the claim.
Honeypots reveal targeted planning
Three cybersecurity firms deployed fake freezer software to monitor hacker activity. Data shows the second wave of attacks, which hit several European countries simultaneously, was highly coordinated. Ryan Dewhurst of Previdian noted the simultaneous temperature increases overnight suggest careful planning and target list compilation.
Multiple possible culprits
While Russian hacktivists are not ruled out, experts say Iranian state-aligned hackers or even teenagers could be responsible. French firm Sequoia noted similarities to previous Iranian attacks on industrial control systems in Israel and the US, including a 2022 compromise of Israeli supermarkets and an August incident at US military bases.
Investigations ongoing
Authorities in several countries are investigating and warning supermarkets of potential future attacks. No formal attribution has been made, and researchers caution that the level of coordination points to a well-organized group rather than a lone actor.
