French cybersecurity authority warns attack may be ongoing as stores scramble to restock

France's cybersecurity authority has cautioned that a cyberattack targeting supermarkets could still be active as stores restocked Wednesday following the incident that caused refrigerator temperatures to soar. The French agency stated Tuesday night that the attacks were "likely still underway" and advised stores to reconnect refrigerators to the internet via a secure VPN connection or protected network, install firmware updates, and change passwords.

The attack on refrigeration systems in hundreds of French supermarkets and independent stores on Monday caused temperatures to reach 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) for about six hours, leading to the disposal of fresh and frozen goods. Supermarkets in the Netherlands also faced disruptions, with one major chain restarting systems it had temporarily shut down.

Both the French and Dutch governments are investigating the cyber incidents, which exposed weaknesses in older refrigeration management systems and the nations' efficient food supply chains. Authorities from both nations are working with Europol but have not identified the perpetrators or made any public claims of responsibility.