Hackers heat French supermarket fridges, sparking fires and spoiling food

Hackers targeted the refrigerators and freezers of hundreds of French supermarkets, raising temperatures to as high as 50 degrees Celsius overnight. This cyber attack led to fires and spoiled food, affecting connected refrigerators in several major food retailers across France, according to the Paris prosecutor's office. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu ordered an investigation by the National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI), a person in his office revealed.

France is collaborating with European partners, as other nations may also be impacted, the source explained, adding that authorities are evaluating whether additional French companies face risks.

Cybersecurity expert Felix Aime disclosed that Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany, and Belgium had also been affected by the attack. Carrefour reported that 80 of its supermarkets were targeted, while Monoprice, which operates around 490 stores in France, stated that 5% of its stores were impacted. Les Mousquetaires, the owner of Intermarché, a large supermarket chain, was among those affected.