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Belgian Government Urges Citizens to Secure Internet-Connected Private Refrigerators

The Belgian government has issued a public advisory calling on citizens to secure their internet-connected smart refrigerators and to carefully consider whether such devices need to be connected to the internet at all. The warning follows recent attacks on supermarket cooling systems across Europe, including in Belgium, where attackers raised temperatures and forced stores to discard large quantities of food. Safeonweb, an initiative of the Belgian Centre for Cybersecurity, stated there are currently no indications that private refrigerators are being targeted. Nevertheless, the agency emphasized the importance of basic IoT security hygiene for any connected device. Recommended measures include replacing default passwords with strong ones, applying updates promptly, isolating smart appliances on a separate Wi-Fi network, and limiting device permissions to only necessary functions and data.

FBI and Partner Agencies Urge Supermarkets to Disconnect Refrigeration Systems from the Internet

The FBI, alongside CISA and multiple U.S. departments, has issued an urgent advisory directing supermarkets and other organizations using refrigeration systems to immediately remove these installations from internet access. The warning follows successful attacks on European supermarket cooling systems that were left publicly reachable, used default passwords, and lacked critical security updates. Attackers altered temperature settings, forcing stores to discard large quantities of perishable food. The agencies highlight risks including shortened equipment lifespan, potential fires, and consumer illness from spoiled products. Recommended actions include isolating control systems behind firewalls, creating dedicated VLANs for OT environments, replacing default credentials with strong unique passwords, applying patches without delay, and monitoring for suspicious activity.

BSI Releases National Guidelines for Post-Quantum Cryptography Migration by 2026

The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has published a national guideline outlining a risk-based transition to post-quantum cryptography. Organizations are advised to complete initial inventory and planning by the end of 2026, with high-risk applications migrated by 2030 and medium-risk systems by 2035. The guidance addresses the threat of future quantum computers breaking RSA and elliptic curve cryptography through store-now-decrypt-later attacks. Bitkom welcomes the framework but calls for clearer responsibilities and timelines for both government and industry. The document recommends hybrid cryptographic schemes and crypto-agility to enable smooth future updates. A Bitkom study shows that 43 percent of larger German companies already view quantum computing as a major IT security risk.