Hackers turn up the heat in refrigerators at hundreds of supermarkets in France, sparking fires and food losses

Key Points:

• Major French supermarket chains including E. Leclerc, Intermarché, and Cooperative U suffered a large-scale cyberattack that remotely triggered forced defrosting of refrigeration systems, causing food spoilage and waste in hundreds of stores.
• The attack targeted refrigeration control systems from Danish manufacturer Danfoss, particularly older models with outdated firmware no longer receiving security updates.
• Paris prosecutors have opened an investigation into the cyberattack, which also reportedly caused fires and financial losses, while French cybersecurity agencies are coordinating with European counterparts to prevent further spread.
• The incident highlights growing concerns about hybrid cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, with President Macron recently ordering measures to protect France from such threats amid geopolitical tensions.
• Dutch retailer Ahold Delhaize also reported a related cybersecurity issue affecting its grocery delivery services, indicating the attack's wider impact beyond France.