Hackers Disrupt French Supermarkets: Freezers Set to 50°C, Causing Spoilage, Fires

Cybercriminals recently launched a sophisticated attack against numerous supermarket chains across France, manipulating their freezer systems to dangerously high temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius. This malicious act led to widespread food spoilage and, in some instances, even triggered fires within the affected stores.

Reports from Reuters indicate that over 100 supermarkets belonging to one chain were compromised. Additionally, 180 outlets under the Intermarché and Netto brands suffered similar disruptions, prompting their spokesperson to reveal that another 100 shops were swiftly taken offline to avert further damage. Other prominent food retailers, including Carrefour, Monoprix, and E.Leclerc, also fell victim to this coordinated cyber assault. The attack specifically exploited software provided by the Danish engineering firm, Danfoss.

Authorities in Paris are actively investigating what their prosecutor's office described as a "large-scale" incident, confirming that it impacted "connected refrigerators in several major food retailers across France." The consequences included significant food losses and outbreaks of fire. In response, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has directed France's National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) to conduct a thorough inquiry, as stated by a government spokesperson.

The scope of the cyberattack extended beyond France's borders. Felix Aime, a senior cyber threat intelligence analyst at Sekoia Threat Detection and Research, confirmed that retailers in Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany, and Belgium were also affected. Les Mousquetaires, the parent company of Intermarché, disclosed that freezers in approximately 150 of its stores were heated to 50°C for a duration of six hours overnight. A representative for the company affirmed that all contaminated food items were immediately discarded to prevent any potential health hazards to consumers.