{
  "id": 14112070,
  "title": "Hackers Heat French Supermarket Fridges, Sparking Fires and Spoiling Food",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/hackers-heat-french-supermarket-fridges-sparking-fires-and-spoiling-14112070",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-13T04:03:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
    "slug": "the-japan-news-by-the-yomiuri-shimbun",
    "url": "https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/news-services/reuters/20261013-353537/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hackers targeted refrigeration systems in hundreds of French supermarkets, causing temperatures to soar to 50°C and leading to fires and spoiled food. The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed a \"large-scale\" attack affecting numerous food retailers across the country, resulting in estimated losses of tens of millions of euros. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu directed the National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) to investigate the incident, which was said to have impacted stores in France and potentially other European countries. Major supermarkets like Carrefour, Monoprix, and Intermarche reported significant disruptions, with food losses and damaged equipment. The vulnerability was traced back to outdated firmware in Danfoss refrigeration management systems, with the company admitting to running outdated software. French retail associations called for transparency from Danfoss, and affected stores worked to restore operations. Meanwhile, Dutch retailer Ahold Delhaize indicated it was experiencing a \"security issue\" and took systems offline as a precaution.",
  "summary": "PARIS (Reuters) - Hackers raised the temperature of refrigerators and freezers at hundreds of French supermarkets to as high as 50 degrees Celsius overnight, causing fires and spoiling food. The Paris prosecutor's office said on Monday that a \"large-scale\" attack was \"affecting connected refrigerators in several major food retailers across France\", leading to food losses and fires.",
  "key_points": [
    "Hackers exploited outdated Danfoss refrigeration systems in French supermarkets.",
    "Temperatures rose to 50°C, causing fires and food spoilage.",
    "Prime Minister Lecornu ordered investigation into the large-scale cyberattack."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The exploitation of outdated firmware in refrigeration management systems turns essential retail infrastructure into a massive liability, forcing food retailers to face significant financial losses and widespread operational disruptions.",
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/14112070.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Hackers heat French supermarket fridges, sparking fires and spoiling food",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/hackers-heat-french-supermarket-fridges-sparking-fires-and-spoiling",
        "published": "2026-10-13T00:38:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Hackers heat French supermarket fridges, sparking fires and spoiling food",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/hackers-heat-french-supermarket-fridges-sparking-fires-and-spoiling-14091633",
        "published": "2026-10-13T02:07:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
        "title": "Hackers heat French supermarket fridges, sparking fires and spoiling food",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/hackers-heat-french-supermarket-fridges-sparking-fires-and-spoiling-14117734",
        "published": "2026-10-13T03:38:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}