{
  "id": 19928420,
  "title": "How hackers took control of supermarket fridges across Europe, and what it means for India’s cold chain",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/how-hackers-took-control-of-supermarket-fridges-across-europe-and",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-14T05:24:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/europe-supermarket-fridge-hack-india-cold-chain-10962181/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hackers gained control of supermarket refrigeration systems across Europe in October 2021, causing food spoilage and fires. On October 11-12, attackers targeted around 700 French retail sites, including Carrefour and Intermarché, raising temperatures and melting ice from cooling coils. A second wave occurred in early November, affecting stores in eight European countries. In France, the attacks damaged France's national blood service's refrigeration equipment, but alarm systems prevented any loss of blood products.\n\nThe attack highlighted the risks posed by connecting refrigeration equipment to the internet, creating a cyber risk if not properly secured. Connecting cooling equipment to the internet allows operators to monitor temperatures, spot faults, and adjust settings remotely. However, when someone else gains access to these controls, it can lead to serious consequences.\n\nCold storage facilities, or cold chains, are large insulated refrigerators divided into rooms with varying temperatures for different stored items. These systems use refrigerants that circulate through pipes and change between liquid and gas, absorbing heat and releasing it outside the cooled space. Sensors measure temperature and send readings to an electronic controller, which manages defrost cycles and other cooling equipment.\n\nThe attacks showed that cyberattacks can disrupt refrigeration, leading to food spoilage and potential safety hazards. Attackers can identify vulnerable systems online, exploit weak or default passwords, or exploit outdated software vulnerabilities. Once inside an organization's network, attackers can move from corporate IT environments to the systems controlling physical equipment.\n\nIndustrial equipment, such as refrigeration systems, often have long lifespans, sometimes remaining operational for 15-20 years after manufacturers stop providing security updates. This makes them particularly susceptible to cyber threats. In response, Sandeep Kachhawa, an energy efficiency researcher, emphasized the importance of securing connected systems to prevent unauthorized access and mitigate potential risks.",
  "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."
}