UK issued horror 'two-year' warning as Europe's supermarkets hit by 'attack'
GCHQ has been alerting organisations in the UK which could be at risk after supermarket freezers across Europe were hit by apparent cyber attacks. The move by the UK’s intelligence and security agency came after supermarkets across the continent were hit by issues with freezers and fridges. The chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which is part of GCHQ, said there are a couple of instances in the UK where “vulnerable technology has been exploited” after the cyber attacks. Asked if there is any evidence that supermarkets in Britain or freezers of the same make or model have been targeted, Dr Richard Horne told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s not just supermarkets, it’s through the whole food supply chain, and we’ve been alerting organisations where we can see they’ve got exposed technology that’s vulnerable in this way.
TL;DR
- GCHQ and NCSC are alerting UK organizations to risks following cyber attacks on European supermarket freezers.
- Vulnerable technology has been exploited in the UK food supply chain.
- The NCSC warns of AI-boosted attacks on critical national infrastructure within two years.
- Hostile states are expected to use AI for attacks by 2028.
- Past underinvestment in technology and security by design is a major vulnerability.
- Organizations are urged to invest in security to avoid future explanations for failures.
- The NCSC handled 1,831 cyber attack reports this year, with 337 requiring support and 80 being nationally significant.