Pentagon Treats U.S. Military Freezer Failures as Suspected Cyberattack

The Pentagon is treating a series of unexplained freezer malfunctions at U.S. military bases as a suspected cyberattack, according to a Reuters report published on October 29, citing four officials familiar with the matter.

August failures spoiled food at commissaries

The failures affected at least six commissaries, the on-base stores used by military personnel. Reuters reviewed contemporaneous posts and updates from the affected installations. In at least one case, the cooling equipment did more than stop working: its temperature was raised overnight, leaving food wilted or melted by morning.

Investigation has not identified a culprit

The Pentagon told Reuters that a unit of U.S. Cyber Command was working closely with other government agencies and law-enforcement partners. It did not disclose the scope or findings of the inquiry.

The Army Criminal Investigation Division said its Cyber Field Office was involved and was coordinating with French law enforcement to better understand refrigeration outages in Europe. One official said U.S. investigators were also in contact with French counterparts after a similar attack affected commercial freezers at French supermarkets earlier in October.

Those contacts do not establish that the U.S. incidents were caused by the same actor or method. Reuters said it could not determine how far the Pentagon investigation had progressed, whether it had reached a conclusion, or who might be responsible.

Controller technology remains unconfirmed

Reuters also reported that it could not determine which controller brand was installed at the affected U.S. bases. The reported French incidents therefore provide context, not proof of the technology or vulnerability involved in the American cases.

Source: Reuters report