{
  "id": 17929678,
  "title": "Hackers target what the world cant do without: Food",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/hackers-target-what-the-world-cant-do-without-food",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-03T07:20:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/europe-fridge-supermarkets-hackers-are-targeting-something-the-world-cannot-do-without-food/articleshow/135485555.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Supermarket refrigerators and freezers across Europe have become the latest targets of mysterious cyberattacks, raising concerns about a new form of disruption threatening our food supply. Refrigeration systems in supermarkets spanning seven European nations were compromised, with some thermostats intentionally raised to temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius, causing a range of issues from spoiled food to disrupted store operations. The European Union condemned the attacks as a deliberate attempt to harm the food supply chain and undermine consumer confidence. Despite no group claiming responsibility, investigators have yet to identify the perpetrators or their motives. Experts explain that food offers hackers a visible way to disrupt life, as raising temperatures in freezers can render products unsafe or unsellable. Additionally, the software controlling these systems often lacks regular security updates, making them easy targets. While the attacks' motives remain unclear, they may stem from state-backed demonstrations of capability or the actions of independent hackers. The breaches highlight the potential for vulnerabilities to extend beyond supermarkets, affecting essential services and everyday life as more physical systems become interconnected.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}