Hundreds of French supermarkets hit by a cyberattack that defrosted refrigeration systems
Hundreds of French supermarkets saw their refrigeration systems defrosted, spoiling tons of frozen food. The unprecedented attack has raised serious questions about food security across Europe.
On Monday, over 400 French supermarkets faced a cyberattack that forced them to discard perishable goods, after hackers took control of refrigeration systems in major chains including Cooperative U, Leclerc, Les Mousquetaires, and Intermarche. The attackers, believed to be using outdated software from Danish supplier Danfoss, defrosted thousands of freezer and refrigeration units, some for more than six hours, causing temperatures to rise to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit).
The French Prime Minister, Sebastien Lecornu, has since tasked the cybersecurity agency ANSSI to investigate, liaising with European counterparts as other countries may also be affected. While the responsible party remains unidentified, the incident underscores concerns over vulnerabilities in industrial systems and the potential for cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, particularly amid heightened tensions over the war in Ukraine.
Food security experts have condemned the attack, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance and protection of critical systems.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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