"Trust us when we say it was 'spoiled'": Pentagon probing military freezers full of spoiled food as potential cyberattack

The Pentagon is investigating a possible cyberattack on military bases that impacted commissary freezers. In August 2026, numerous military installations reported problems with refrigeration units, including malfunctioning freezers that resulted in spoiled food. The Pentagon has confirmed an investigation into whether these malfunctions were part of a coordinated cyberattack, similar to a recent incident in French supermarkets.

The US Cyber Command is collaborating with various agencies, including the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division’s Cyber Field Office, to determine if the malfunctions were intentional. Six military bases in August shared reports of issues on social media, with Fort Irwin, F.E. Warren, Naval Station Newport, Columbus, and Travis all affected.

The freezers were discovered to be full of hot, spoiled food upon staff's arrival, leading Fort Huachuca to warn that it was indeed spoiled food. The Defense Criminal Investigative Service is leading the joint investigation, but the Defense Department declined to comment on ongoing law enforcement matters. The targeted brand, Danfoss, disclosed that many French supermarkets using their devices had outdated firmware, making them more susceptible to hacking.

The rise of the Internet of Things has simplified managing multiple devices, but it has also created new vulnerabilities, as outdated firmware can be exploited by hackers to control devices remotely.