Cyber attack causes refrigerators in French supermarkets to overheat, losses in millions
Hackers took control of refrigeration software in hundreds of French shops, causing temperatures to reach 50°C. The Paris public prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation.
Refrigerators at major French retail chains compromised by hackers
According to Cotidianul.ro, hackers obtained control of the software regulating temperatures in refrigeration units at several major French supermarket networks, causing them to overheat to 50°C during the night from Sunday to Monday.
At least 300 Intermarché stores and its Netto brand were affected, along with more than 100 units of the Coopérative U chain, according to data provided by the AFP agency, cited by France 24. Carrefour confirmed that 80 of its locations were also targeted. Retail-specialist publications and local press mention that E.Leclerc and Monoprix were also among the targets, according to BBC News.
Intermarché stated that refrigeration equipment operated at 50 degrees Celsius for six hours, forcing the retailer to dispose of all affected food products to prevent risks to consumer health, according to Reuters. Employees at some supermarkets reported being met with waves of hot air on Monday morning when opening freezers. BFMTV published an image of a freezer in an ice cream section displaying 26.5 degrees Celsius.
The chief executive of Coopérative U, Dominique Schelcher, described the attack as "extremely serious and unprecedented", adding that staff were "completely mobilised, in coordination with refrigeration specialists, to restore the situation as quickly as possible". Schelcher called for an investigation to be opened and described the targeting of equipment essential to France's food supply as "unacceptable".
The Paris public prosecutor's office confirmed to AFP that it had opened an investigation into "a large-scale cyber attack that affected refrigerators at several major food retail chains in France".
Two supermarkets in the Alsace region reported losses of 270,000 euros on their own, suggesting that the total at national level could reach several million euros.
European Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen condemned the attack in a post on X: "Food security requires more attention at all levels. Because turning food into a weapon has become a reality."
Source: Cotidianul.ro