In brief
A wave of cyber attacks targeted the refrigeration units of major French supermarkets, causing fridges and freezers to heat to dangerous temperatures overnight. More than 400 stores across chains such as Intermarché, Monoprix, and Carrefour were affected, leading to the disposal of millions of euros worth of food. The hackers exploited software supplied by Danish firm Danfoss that lacked up‑date security patches. French authorities have launched a cyber‑crime investigation and government officials have condemned the attack as a grave threat to food security.
Hundreds of French supermarkets were hit by a cyberattack that forced refrigeration units to heat to up to 50C overnight, spoiling fresh and frozen food worth millions of euros.
Hackers took control of the software that regulates the temperature of the units, making some freezers warm to 50C for extended periods during overnight defrost cycles. The attack impacted major chains including Intermarché, Netto, Carrefour, Monoprix, and E.Leclerc, with roughly 400 stores affected out of about 15,000 in France.
The software is supplied by Danish engineering firm Danfoss. Operators say the affected units were older models whose security software could not be updated, and Danfoss has repeatedly advised customers to keep systems current.
Intermarché reported that its fridges reached 50C for six hours on Monday, after which entire stock was discarded to avoid health risks. Prices of lost groceries for two Alsace stores reached €270,000, suggesting national losses could run into the millions.
French prosecutors have launched a cyber‑crime investigation, describing the incident as a large‑scale attack on essential food supply infrastructure. European Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen condemned the act, warning that weaponising food is becoming a reality.
Retailers are working with refrigeration specialists to restore normalcy, but they have urged an investigation into the motives behind the attack and called it unacceptable to target food‑safety equipment.
