Cyberattack on cooling and freezing systems: goods worth hundreds of thousands of kronor destroyed in Sjöbo
Ica Kvantum in Sjöbo was hit by a suspected cyberattack on its cooling system – the freezers were set to 50 degrees. Store manager Rickard Nilsson calls it "a form of terrorism".
Ica store in Sjöbo crippled after attack on cooling system
Foodstuffs worth several hundred thousand kronor had to be thrown away in containers outside Ica Kvantum in Sjöbo following what Aftonbladet describes as a suspected cyberattack on the store's cooling and freezing systems during the night.
Store manager Rickard Nilsson received an SMS from his boss, who also owns an Ica store in Tomelilla where the system had been knocked out. When Nilsson arrived at the store, he discovered that the freezers and refrigerators had been tampered with and set to 50 degrees.
"It is completely crazy. I think it is a form of terrorism what they are doing. These are strong words, but it feels a bit like that anyway," Nilsson says.
Technicians worked on site during the morning and forenoon and managed to restore the cooling and freezing system. However, the store remained without goods to stock the shelves with and hoped for an emergency delivery the day after.
"It is terrible. Food waste like no other. It is completely crazy that we have to throw away so much food," Nilsson says.
Seven Coop stores in central Sweden were also affected by similar problems. At Coop, a system upgrade was planned for Wednesday – a decision made in light of earlier attacks on French grocery stores. Nilsson stated that he had ordered a new system but that it had not yet been installed.
"It is easy to be wise after the event, we should have done that long ago," he says.
Customers who made their way to the store testified to their shock. Görel Blennow, who had read about the incident online, called it a "catastrophe" and wondered how anyone could carry out such an attack. Angelina Lindell visited the store to show her support.
"Everyone is very upset and thinks it is really unfortunate. It is a shame for those who work here and it is wasteful with foodstuffs," she says.
Source: Aftonbladet