Statement by Palazzo Chigi on the hacker attacks against commercial refrigeration systems in Europe

A meeting was held at Palazzo Chigi today with Undersecretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Alfredo Mantovano and Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida, attended by the director of the National Cybersecurity Agency ('Agenzia per la Cybersicurezza Nazionale', 'ACN') and the directors of Italy's intelligence agencies, following the hacker attacks targeting a number of commercial refrigeration systems in Europe.

Initial findings suggest that the impact of the attacks in Italy is extremely limited at the moment: only a few commercial units have been affected, compared with the thousands present across the nation, and most of them had obsolete security systems with interfaces directly exposed to the internet as well as weaknesses in their authentication mechanisms. The majority of the supply chain is instead equipped with up-to-date protection systems, able to fend off malicious intrusions.

No risks to public health attributable to thawing have emerged. Moreover, the ACN notifies the Carabinieri's 'Anti-Adulteration and Public Health Units' ('Nuclei Antisofisticazione e Sanità', 'NAS') of any anomalies reported, in order to ensure swift intervention. The ACN is also meeting with representatives of the sectors affected as well as with the directors of the industry's main operators.

All Government branches will continue to take action along four main lines: threat monitoring and analysis, which was already launched months ago; constant dialogue with suppliers and vendors along the food supply chain; identification and prompt notification of those exposed; large-scale dissemination of preventive communications and guidance on risk mitigation in the sectors affected.

There is therefore no cause for alarm, but all the relevant institutional bodies are maintaining the utmost attention.