Attacks on critical infrastructure: Don't panic, take action

Here they are again. These needle pricks on the lifelines of our everyday lives. In recent weeks, cybercriminals have apparently been able to relatively easily break into the digital systems of refrigeration systems in European supermarkets and influence the temperature controls. The food in the refrigerators and freezers was heated to up to 50 degrees and then had to be thrown away. Even blood banks were affected - but fortunately the quality of the blood supplies was not affected.

This is certainly not the first time that hackers have targeted cooling systems. France and the Netherlands made a spectacular start a few weeks ago. Last week there were reports of manipulated cooling systems from Sweden, Ireland, Belgium, Estonia, Italy, again the Netherlands and France. And also for the first time from Germany. Now even the FBI and other US authorities are warning of an ongoing threat.

However, there is no need to panic. But finally act: change passwords, disconnect systems from the network, replace old devices, create emergency plans. Yes, dear supermarket owners, dear entrepreneurs, investments are needed in the protection of critical infrastructure and, above all, more awareness that our beloved digitalized lifestyles are the perfect target of criminals, of saboteurs, of those who want to spread fear and uncertainty.

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Statements from top NATO generals who see Russian-related hackers behind the attacks on the cooling systems should be taken seriously. Since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the term hybrid warfare, which refers to non-military attacks, should no longer be a foreign word.

And while the population, authorities and politicians are wondering about the high temperatures in the cold chain, the next reports are coming that affect the everyday life of the civilian population. Airlines in many European countries had to change their flight routes, cancel or postpone flights because of bomb threats. Nothing was found, but that would be unthinkable if the authorities hadn't followed up on the information.

Here too: disrupt, unsettle, spy on reaction chains, test processes. This is probably an aspect that the masterminds of such actions have in mind. So far, there is no real connection between the affected countries, places or routes. It's about the accumulation of incidents and the simultaneity of events. In passenger flights in European airspace, in the cooling systems in European supermarkets and healthcare facilities.

The detective search for clues will show whether the specific perpetrators can ever be unmasked. But those behind it have already managed one thing: namely, to ensure as much stress as possible.