Hackers Raise French Supermarket Fridge Temperatures in Cyberattack

· Cybersecurity · France

Hackers forced the temperature of refrigerators in several hundred French supermarkets up to 50 degrees Celsius overnight, causing fires and spoiling fresh and frozen food worth millions of euros in what officials called an unprecedented cyberattack. The affected chains include Intermarche, Cooperative U, Carrefour and Leclerc. Paris prosecutors confirmed the attack, which reportedly exploited outdated refrigeration control systems and affected more than 400 outlets across France. There were fears Dutch chains were also affected. The incident raised concerns about food security and the resilience of connected industrial control systems in retail supply chains.

Why it matters：The attack shows how vulnerable connected industrial controls are in everyday retail, turning a cyber intrusion into physical damage and food loss.

Key points

  • Refrigerators in hundreds of French supermarkets were heated to 50C overnight, causing fires and food losses
  • Chains hit include Intermarche, Cooperative U, Carrefour and Leclerc, with over 400 outlets affected
  • The attack reportedly exploited outdated refrigeration control systems; Paris prosecutors confirmed it

Sources (original reporting)

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