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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.

Security.NLTranslated from NL

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The Belgian government has called on citizens to secure their internet-connected private refrigerators and to consider whether connecting such appliances to the internet is necessary.

The advisory was issued by Safeonweb, an initiative of the Belgian Centre for Cybersecurity, following attacks on supermarket cooling systems in several European countries. Attackers raised the temperature of the installations, resulting in large quantities of food being discarded. Several Belgian stores were also affected.

Although the Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium has no evidence that private refrigerators are currently being targeted, the incidents serve as a reminder to evaluate the risks of connecting everyday devices to the internet.

"A refrigerator with an internet connection can be convenient, but every connected device requires attention to security," the agency stated.

Owners of smart refrigerators and other connected appliances are advised to:

  • Change the default system password to a strong one
  • Install updates as soon as they become available
  • Use a separate Wi-Fi network for smart devices when possible
  • Grant the device access only to the data and functions it actually requires
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