Hundreds of French supermarkets hit by cyberattack on refrigeration systems

A cyberattack targeting refrigeration systems has struck hundreds of French supermarkets, according to Intermarché and Coopérative U. Around 150 to 200 Intermarché stores and nearly 100 Coopérative U outlets were impacted. France's largest supermarket chain, E. Leclerc, may also have been compromised, with hackers reportedly triggering defrost cycles in their refrigeration systems.

The affected stores are being forced to discard all their products, fresh and frozen. Intermarché warned that this could lead to complications with insurance policies, as such incidents are typically not covered. The Paris prosecutor's office has confirmed the cyberattack and launched an investigation to determine the extent of the damage and link it to reported losses.

Coopérative U's CEO described the attack as unprecedented and emphasized the severity of targeting critical food supply equipment. Other major retailers, such as Carrefour Market and Monoprix, are suspected to have been affected, though they have yet to confirm the reports. The incident highlights growing concerns about the potential devastation cyberattacks could cause to critical infrastructure across Europe.