Supermarket freezers in several European countries hit by apparent cyberattacks

Supermarkets in Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland and Estonia experienced technical issues on Monday with freezers and refrigeration systems, likely the result of cyberattacks, according to various reports. The incidents forced some stores to discard spoiled food and are believed to be connected to a recent series of attacks in France.

In Sweden, the ICA Group reported that a limited number of stores were impacted and had to dispose of products due to frozen systems being set to 50 degrees Celsius. A store in Sjobo, southern Sweden, stated that its fridges and freezers had been hacked. Coop, a Swedish supermarket chain, reported six of its stores in central Sweden had similar problems, though specific details were not immediately available.

Delhaize, a Belgian supermarket chain, said an IT incident affected refrigeration systems in several dozen stores, mostly in Belgium but also a few in Luxembourg. Carrefour reported that 15 of its 700+ stores in Belgium were affected, describing the impact as "extremely limited." In Estonia, a refrigeration technology company revealed that attackers accessed a computer controlling a client's refrigeration system, raising the temperature to a potentially damaging level.

The Selver supermarket chain reported one affected outlet, while SuperValu in Ireland said 13 of its stores were impacted and had to remove chilled and frozen products from sale as a precaution. The company confirmed the incident was fully resolved, with replenishment of chilled and frozen ranges well underway.