Hundreds of French supermarkets have been hit by a cyberattack that caused their fridges and freezers to heat up, spoiling food and forcing retailers to dump stock.
The attack began overnight between October 11 and 12, with Intermarché and Coopérative U confirming their refrigeration systems had been affected. Coopérative U chief executive Dominique Schelcher described the incident as “unprecedented.”
Connected appliances have already exposed some unusual security problems this year, including a man who accidentally gained access to thousands of robot vacuums while trying to control his own with a PS5 controller. In France, the consequences have reached supermarket food supplies.
Supermarket fridges hit 122°F during overnight attack
According to Reuters, Intermarché owner Les Mousquetaires said around 150 stores were affected, with fridges reaching 50°C, or 122°F, for six hours. A spokesperson said the food had been thrown away to avoid health risks.
The Paris prosecutor’s office told AFP it had opened an investigation into the attack. Investigators are working to identify affected businesses and establish links between the incident and reported damage, including food losses and fires.
Danfoss, the refrigeration technology supplier, told Reuters that affected units were running outdated firmware. The company said it had previously advised customers to update supported systems and replace older equipment.
Other supermarket chains have also been named in reports. However, Euronews noted that Carrefour Market and Monoprix had not confirmed they were affected, despite being identified by French retail publication Je Bosse en Grande Distribution.
The incident adds to recent examples of cyberattacks disrupting everyday services. Earlier this year, two hackers pleaded guilty over an attack that cost London’s transport authority roughly $39 million.
In France, investigators are still assessing the scale of the supermarket attack and the damage reported by retailers.
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
