French supermarkets suffer fridge shutdown after 'unprecedented' cyberattack

French supermarkets across the country have fallen victim to a major cyberattack that caused their refrigerators to malfunction. E. Leclerc, Intermarche, and Cooperative U confirmed that their refrigeration systems increased in temperature, leading to spoiled food being thrown away. The European Union's food and agriculture commissioner, Christophe Hansen, described the cyberattack as unprecedented and urged more attention to food security.

At least 300 shops of Intermarche and over 100 Cooperative U outlets were targeted, along with several E. Leclerc stores. Paris prosecutors have confirmed the attack and indicated that it also affected other major chains, sparking fires in some stores. BFM TV reported that hackers remotely triggered the forced defrosting of the refrigeration systems in numerous stores, resulting in the destruction of fresh and frozen products.

French retailer sector news website jebosseengrandedistribution.fr said Carrefour Market and Monoprix were also affected, although the companies have yet to confirm this. Danfoss, a Danish manufacturer of refrigeration equipment, stated that its legacy products, which no longer receive software or security updates, were notably affected.

The French cyber security agency has identified a vulnerability in the software supplied by the Danish company and is working with European counterparts to prevent the spread of the attack. The chief executive of Cooperative U described the attack as unprecedented and emphasized the seriousness of the situation. An investigation into the large-scale cyberattack has been initiated to identify victims and establish the link between the damage reported and the financial losses.

The incident highlights the potential havoc that malicious actors can cause in Europe through cyberattacks, particularly targeting critical infrastructure such as refrigeration units.