'Unprecedented' Cyberattack cripples supermarket fridges across Europe as hackers activate automatic defrosting — delivery and store prices also impacted by incident
A cyberattack has hit supermarkets in Europe, disabling refrigerators.
A massive cyberattack has struck supermarket chains throughout Europe, crippling refrigeration control systems and causing disruptions in deliveries and pricing. According to reports from La Dépêche, several major retailers, including French supermarkets Intermarché, Leclerc, and Coopérative U, have been targeted by the cyberattack.
Dominique Schelcher, president of Coopérative U, confirmed that the cyberattack has affected refrigeration production facilities in several stores, describing it as "extremely serious." Teams have been mobilized to address the issue and conduct an investigation into the incident.
The attack has activated automatic defrosting systems in the affected refrigeration units, causing them to continuously defrost at a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius. This has led to a wave of heat escaping from fridges and freezers, resulting in significant losses. Early estimates suggest that the losses are already nearing 300,000 euros, with the potential to reach several million euros across Europe.
The cyberattack has also impacted electronic shelf labels, which are used to display in-store pricing. Several supermarket chains, such as Albert Heijn, Etos, and Gall & Gall, in the Netherlands, have had their websites taken down, affecting deliveries. In Belgium, Delhaize, a subsidiary of Albert Heijn, has reported disruptions as well.
The incident has raised concerns about the security of critical infrastructure and the potential consequences of such attacks on the food supply chain. The incident is unprecedented and has never been seen before, with supermarket president Schelcher emphasizing the extreme gravity and inacceptability of the situation. The extent and relation of the attacks remain unclear at this stage, but the Dutch NOS reports that authorities are taking immediate measures to protect the IT environment and prevent further damage.
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