US agencies warn of cyberattacks targeting industrial refrigeration systems

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have issued a joint advisory warning of cyberattacks targeting industrial refrigeration systems. InfoSecurity Magazine, BleepingComputer, and SecurityWeek all reported on the alert issued on November 6, 2026. According to InfoSecurity Magazine and BleepingComputer, federal authorities are aware of malicious activity targeting cold-chain monitoring systems globally. [1][2][5]

The warning follows recent incidents where hackers accessed internet-connected refrigeration setups and attempted to tamper with temperatures, InfoSecurity Magazine reported. SecurityWeek and Industrial Cyber both reported that recent attacks have targeted controllers in European facilities, including supermarket cooling systems and blood banks. BleepingComputer added that the advisory was issued alongside the Departments of Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and Transportation. [1][2][5][6]

BleepingComputer reported that these unauthorized intrusions pose severe operational risks to critical infrastructure. Hackers targeting exposed operational technology controllers could cause food spoilage, equipment damage, and fire hazards. [2][6]

Organizations are urged to harden operational technology controllers and isolate sensitive systems. An air gap is a network security measure that ensures a secure computer network is physically isolated from unsecured networks such as the public internet. [2][5][6][7]