France Summons Iran Envoy Over 700-Store Cyberattack, Weighs EU Sanctions
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Nov 9
France Summons Iran Envoy Over 700-Store Cyberattack, Weighs EU Sanctions
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Nov 9
Summary
France said it is "not ruling anything out" after summoning Iran's ambassador, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot citing possible EU travel bans and asset freezes over the October attacks.
Around 700 grocery stores were hit overnight on Oct. 11-12 when hackers remotely triggered unlimited defrost cycles, disabled safety alerts and drove fridge temperatures up to 50C, causing fires and tens of millions of dollars in damage.
Paris prosecutors said the operation was carried out to serve Iran, pointing to Farsi-language traces and Iranian IP-linked devices, and are seeking international arrest warrants.
The sabotage targeted refrigeration systems from Danfoss and Dixell, and similar attacks later hit stores in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Finland, Ireland and Sweden; French blood banks were also disrupted on Nov. 2.
France has already sanctioned an Iranian company over earlier cyber and influence operations, and now says the latest campaign shows a persistent threat to European critical infrastructure.