Cyberattack Disrupts Refrigeration at French Supermarkets

Hackers remotely disrupted internet-connected refrigeration systems at hundreds of French supermarkets overnight Oct. 11–12, reportedly raising temperatures as high as 50°C and spoiling food; fires were also reported at some locations. Affected chains included Carrefour, Monoprix, Intermarché, Coopérative U, E.Leclerc and Netto, and retailers discarded products when food safety could not be assured. Losses at two Alsace supermarkets were estimated at €270,000, with nationwide losses potentially reaching millions of euros. Investigators are examining systems supplied by Danish company Danfoss, which said some affected equipment was obsolete; the attackers and precise method remain unknown. ANSSI is investigating, and French authorities are coordinating with European counterparts amid reports of possible impacts in Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany and Belgium.