700 supermarkets hit, millions lost: France warns refrigeration cyberattacks may persist
France's cybersecurity authority has warned that a cyberattack targeting supermarket refrigeration systems, which caused temperatures to surge and led to millions of euros in losses and discarded goods, may still be ongoing. Retailers are advised to reconnect systems securely, update firmware, and change passwords, as older, unsupported refrigeration modules are identified as vulnerable.
Why it matters
This incident exposes critical vulnerabilities in industrial control systems and connected infrastructure, demonstrating how cyberattacks can disrupt essential services, impact food supply chains, and cause significant economic damage, urging immediate action for cybersecurity resilience.
France's cybersecurity authority has warned that a cyberattack targeting refrigeration systems at supermarkets may still be underway, as stores restock fresh and frozen goods discarded after temperatures inside refrigerators and freezers surged.The agency said on Tuesday night that the attacks were “likely still underway” and urged retailers to reconnect refrigeration systems to the internet only through secure virtual private network (VPN) connections or protected networks.It also advised stores to install firmware updates and change passwords, according to the news agency Associated Press (AP).Attackers remotely took control of refrigeration systems at hundreds of supermarkets and independent stores across France in the early hours of Monday.
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