Fridges in French supermarkets hit by cyber attack
Hundreds of French supermarkets have suffered a cyber attack that compromised refrigeration software, causing temperatures to rise and spoiling significant amounts of food. Major retailers including Intermarché and Coopérative U are investigating the incident, which has caused millions of euros in losses.
Why it matters
This attack highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and supply chains to targeted cyber warfare.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images By Ian Aikman Published 15 minutes ago Hundreds of French supermarkets have been hit by a cyber attack that caused their fridges and freezers to heat up, spoiling fresh and frozen food estimated to be worth millions of euros.
Hackers reportedly gained control of the software that regulates the temperatures of the refrigeration units, forcing some to warm to 50C (120F) overnight.
The chief executive of Coopérative U said several of its supermarkets had been hit by the "extremely serious and unprecedented" attack.
Almost 100 of the chain's stores were targeted, while between 150 and 200 Intermarché supermarkets were affected, according to the AFP news agency.
Intermarché said its fridges had heated up to 50C for six hours overnight into Monday, and the retailer had thrown away all the affected food to avoid health risks, the Reuters news agency reported.
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