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● LIVE Updated 1h ago · 18 sources tracked

Hundreds of French supermarkets hit by a cyberattack that turned up the heat in refrigeration systems

A large-scale cyberattack has targeted refrigeration systems at hundreds of French supermarkets, including Intermarché and Coopérative U outlets. Hackers overrode controls to activate automatic defrosting, raising temperatures to 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The incident caused widespread food spoilage and sparked fires in some stores. While total losses are not yet fully estimated, one Intermarché director reported losing $112,000 in food. The Paris prosecutor has opened an investigation into the attack, which has been described by some as unprecedented.

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  • ✓ Hackers raised temperatures in supermarket refrigerators to 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • ✓ The attack affected hundreds of stores in France, including Intermarché and Coopérative U.
  • ✓ The overheating of refrigeration systems sparked fires and spoiled fresh and frozen food.
  • ✓ The Paris prosecutor has opened an investigation into the incident.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 18 independent reporting domains (90% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

The Paris prosecutor has opened an official investigation into the cyberattack.

Live updates

  1. Cyberattack Overheats Refrigeration at Hundreds of French Supermarkets

    A large-scale cyberattack has targeted refrigeration systems at hundreds of French supermarkets, including Intermarché and Coopérative U outlets. Hackers overrode controls to activate automatic defrosting, raising temperatures to 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The incident caused widespread food spoilage and sparked fires in some stores. While total losses are not yet fully estimated, one Intermarché director reported losing $112,000 in food. The Paris prosecutor has opened an investigation into the attack, which has been described by some as unprecedented.

    Why it matters

    The attack targeted critical infrastructure within the food supply chain, impacting both store and delivery prices. By manipulating temperature controls, hackers turned cooling units into heat sources. This shift from data theft to physical sabotage highlights a growing risk to automated retail systems.

    What is confirmed

    • Hackers raised temperatures in supermarket refrigerators to 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • The attack affected hundreds of stores in France, including Intermarché and Coopérative U.
    • The overheating of refrigeration systems sparked fires and spoiled fresh and frozen food.
    • The Paris prosecutor has opened an investigation into the incident.

    Still unconfirmed

    • Dutch supermarket chains may also be affected by the attack.
    • The total value of spoiled food is estimated to be worth millions of euros.
    • The attack impacted 700 supermarkets.

    What to watch next

    • Findings from the Paris prosecutor's investigation regarding the perpetrators.
    • Confirmation of whether supermarket chains in the Netherlands were compromised.
    • Official total financial loss estimates from Intermarché and Coopérative U.
    Sources used for this update (18)
    1. www.bbc.com — BBC Home - Breaking News, World News, US News, Sports, Business...
    2. www.yahoo.com — Yahoo
    3. Reuters — Hackers heat French supermarket fridges, sparking fires and spoiling food
    4. dw.com — Hundreds of French supermarkets hit by a cyberattack that turned up the heat in refrigeration systems
    5. BBC — Fridges in French supermarkets hit by cyber attack
    6. CBS News — Hackers turn up the heat in refrigerators at hundreds of supermarkets in France, sparking fires and food losses
    7. Tom's Hardware — 'Unprecedented' Cyberattack cripples supermarket fridges across Europe as hackers activate automatic defrosting — delivery and store prices also impacted by incident
    8. Bloomberg.com — French Supermarket Refrigeration Sites Hit by Cyberattacks
    9. www.bbc.co.uk — Fridges in French supermarkets hit by cyber attack - BBC News
    10. www.businessinsider.com — A cyberattack in France set my supermarket freezers to 122F. Losing $112,000 in food was heartbreaking.
    11. www.cbsnews.com — Hackers turn up the heat in refrigerators at hundreds of ...
    12. www.theguardian.com — Hackers force French supermarket fridges to heat up to 50C in ...
    confidence 90%
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