Cyberattack Targets French Supermarket Refrigerators, Forcing Mass Food Disposal
Hackers took advantage of a software vulnerability, proving again that any connected appliance on the internet can be a target.
A coordinated cyberattack early Monday morning targeted hundreds of supermarkets in France, causing fridges and freezers to enter defrost mode and temperatures to soar to dangerous levels. This resulted in food spoilage and, in some cases, fires. Three major grocery chains, E. Leclerc, Intermarche and Cooperative U, were affected.
The hackers exploited outdated firmware on Danfoss system controllers, which were connected to the internet for remote management of defrost cycles, temperatures, and alarms across many stores. While Danfoss is working on mitigation measures, including firmware updates and stronger network protections, the incident highlights the vulnerability of network-connected devices, particularly older ones, to attacks.
Dominique Schelcher, CEO of Cooperative U, emphasized the gravity of targeting equipment essential to food preservation and the food supply, calling it unprecedented. The French supermarket attack underscores the growing risk of attacks on operational technology and cold-chain infrastructure, which could have serious implications for global food supplies.
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