Science & Tech · Cybersecurity · 3 hrs ago
Cyberattack changes cooling temperatures at 17 Dutch businesses
A cyberattack changed cooling temperatures at 17 Dutch businesses overnight, according to supplier Danfoss.
The affected systems are used by businesses such as butcher shops and small local stores, and one affected site stores frozen food.
At that site, a freezer was found at -10°C instead of its usual -20°C, and the company says it intervened quickly.
Major Dutch supermarket chains were not known to be affected, but cooling systems were also attacked in Belgium, Luxembourg and Sweden, with supermarket systems targeted in Ireland and Estonia.
Danfoss had advised customers on 13 October to disconnect the systems from the internet and reconnect only through a secure network.
The affected Dutch systems were not on secure networks and used default passwords, Danfoss says, and the company believes the attack could have been prevented with security measures.
Businesses using these systems may need to secure their connections and passwords to reduce the risk of further attacks.
At least 17 Dutch businesses had their cooling and freezing systems targeted in a cyberattack overnight, with temperatures changed remotely.
Danfoss, the systems supplier, said the affected systems included those used by butcher shops and small neighborhood stores.
No major Dutch supermarket chains were known to have been affected.
One affected site stored frozen products, and its systems were found at -10 degrees Celsius instead of the usual -20 degrees.
Danfoss said the targeted systems were not on a secure network and used a default password.
- Who
- At least 17 Dutch businesses were affected. Danfoss is the supplier that reported the attack.
- What
- A cyberattack changed temperatures in cooling and freezing systems remotely.
- When
- Overnight before the reports on November 2, 2026.
- Where
- The affected businesses were in the Netherlands.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Danfoss advised Dutch customers to disconnect the systems from the internet and reconnect only through a secure network.
Cooling and freezing systems at at least 17 Dutch businesses were attacked and their temperatures changed.
Danfoss confirmed the attack to NOS.
- Affected businesses
- At least 17
- Affected country
- The Netherlands
- Temperature at frozen-products storage site
- -10 degrees Celsius, instead of the usual -20 degrees
- System security
- The affected systems were not on a secure network and used a default password
- Advice date
- October 13
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What people are saying
Daar moeten de systemen normaal op -20 graden staan, maar afgelopen nacht ontdekten we dat ze op -10 graden stonden. Daar hebben we snel kunnen ingrijpen.
Het merendeel van de winkels heeft toen maatregelen genomen, maar een klein aantal niet