French supermarkets targeted by massive defrost cyberattack

Key Points:

• Hundreds of French supermarkets, including Cooperative U, Leclerc, Les Mousquetaires, and Intermarche, were forced to discard perishable goods after hackers took control of refrigeration systems and defrosted thousands of units overnight.
• The attack affected over 400 stores, with some fridges heated to 50°C (122°F) for more than six hours, leading to significant food spoilage and reported fires at some locations.
• The compromised refrigeration systems were linked to Danish supplier Danfoss, whose outdated firmware was exploited; French authorities have launched an investigation with the cybersecurity agency ANSSI and are coordinating with European counterparts.
• Similar security issues were reported in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, though no direct connection to the French attacks has been confirmed, and no group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
• The attack highlights growing concerns about cyber threats to food supply chains, with officials emphasizing the need for increased protection of critical infrastructure amid geopolitical tensions and hybrid warfare risks.