Cyberattack raises French supermarket fridge temperatures to 50C

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 19:02 · Archive

Hackers forced refrigeration systems in hundreds of French supermarket stores to 50C overnight, causing food losses and fires.

A large-scale cyberattack has disrupted refrigeration systems across several hundred French supermarket stores overnight, heating fridges and freezers to 50C and causing fires and substantial food losses. The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed the attack was affecting connected refrigerators in several major food retailers across France.

Major chains were targeted including Carrefour, which reported 80 supermarkets hit, Monoprix with about five per cent of its stores affected, Intermarché with around 150 stores heated to 50C for six hours, and Cooperative U. Hackers managed to switch refrigerators and freezers to defrost mode overnight. All affected food was discarded to eliminate health risks.

The attack extended beyond France. Felix Aime, a senior cyber threat intelligence analyst at Sekoia Threat Detection and Research, said Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany and Belgium had also been affected. France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu instructed the National Cybersecurity Agency ANSSI to investigate and said France was co-ordinating with European counterparts and investigating whether other French firms were at risk.

Cooperative U CEO Dominique Schelcher described the attack as 'of extreme gravity and unprecedented', saying it targeted 'equipment essential to the preservation of fresh products and to the food supply of the French people'.

How it is being reported

• Cyberattack hits French store fridges, sparks firesA cyberattack has disrupted refrigeration systems in supermarkets belonging to several major French food retail chains, turning up the heat inside.The West Australian · 12 Oct, 18:43
• Cyberattack hits French store fridges, sparks firesA cyberattack has disrupted refrigeration systems in supermarkets belonging to several major French food retail chains, turning up the heat inside.Perth Now · 12 Oct, 18:43

In this story: France · Carrefour · Monoprix · Intermarché · Cooperative U · ANSSI · Sebastien Lecornu · Dominique Schelcher

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem