A cyberattack changed temperature and defrosting settings at three cold-storage sites used by France’s national blood service.
Transcript
Vocabulary in this episode
- cyberattack
I’m Leo, the station’s columnist for technology and digital life, with a chronicle about how a cyberattack reached France’s blood storage systems.
An attempt to damage or access computer systems without permission.
- cyberattack
A cyberattack changed temperature and defrosting settings at three cold-storage sites used by France’s national blood service.
An attack on computer systems that changed the sites’ controls.
- cold-storage sites
A cyberattack changed temperature and defrosting settings at three cold-storage sites used by France’s national blood service.
Places where goods are kept cold.
- blood service
A cyberattack changed temperature and defrosting settings at three cold-storage sites used by France’s national blood service.
An organization that collects and supplies blood for medical use.
- blood service
EFS said the attack reached the sites through a refrigeration-equipment supplier, rather than targeting the blood service directly.
The organization that collects and supplies blood.
- alerted
The service, known as EFS, said alarms alerted staff, who acted before any blood products or samples were compromised.
The alarms warned staff that something was wrong.
- compromised
The service, known as EFS, said alarms alerted staff, who acted before any blood products or samples were compromised.
Damaged or made unsafe.
- compromised
Here, alarm systems gave staff a chance to respond before the stored products were reported compromised.
Reported as damaged or no longer safe to use.
- plasma
The sites stored plasma for transfusions and for making medicines.
The liquid part of blood, used in some treatments and medicines.
- transfusions
The sites stored plasma for transfusions and for making medicines.
Medical procedures that put donated blood or blood parts into a person.
- secured
It said affected products were secured or moved to other facilities.
Made safe from harm or unauthorized use.
- refrigeration-equipment supplier
EFS said the attack reached the sites through a refrigeration-equipment supplier, rather than targeting the blood service directly.
A business that provides equipment used to keep things cold.
- without interruption
It said collection and distribution continued without interruption.
They continued without stopping or being delayed.
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Sources
- RechercheThe EFS collects, tests, prepares and distributes blood products to more than 1,900 hospitals in France, and supports more than a million patients a year.
- RechercheEFS said the cyberattack hit a refrigeration-equipment supplier and that it was not directly targeted.
- RechercheEFS said its blood collection and distribution continued without interruption. France’s national cybersecurity agency and Health Ministry were investigating.