French supermarket chains say cyberattack forced refrigerator shutdown

Major French supermarket chains Intermarche and Cooperative U were hit by a cyberattack that forced their refrigerators to defrost, according to AFP. Some 150-200 Intermarche shops and nearly 100 Cooperative U outlets were targeted in the attack, which also reportedly affected other major chains. Paris prosecutors confirmed the incident and indicated it had led to fires.

French supermarket giant E. Leclerc, the country's largest retailer, was also reportedly impacted, with hackers able to remotely trigger forced defrosting in numerous stores. Intermarche stated that affected branches would need to discard all fresh and frozen products, while Cooperative U CEO Dominique Schelcher described the attack as "unprecedented" and emphasized its seriousness and unprecedented nature.

Schelcher added that targeting essential refrigeration systems for preserving fresh products and the country's food supply is unacceptable. An investigation has been opened by the Paris prosecutor's office to determine the victims and establish the connection between the reported losses and the fires. Intermarche condemned the food waste and financial losses, warning that insurance policies may not cover such in-store incidents.

The incident highlights growing concerns about the potential havoc that cyberattacks can cause across Europe in various sectors, as President Emmanuel Macron ordered measures to protect France's critical infrastructure from Russian "hybrid attacks."