Investigators hunt hackers who heated French supermarket fridges, sparking fires and spiling food
Hackers raised temperatures in refrigeration units at hundreds of French supermarkets overnight, forcing freezers up to 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The nationwide cyberattack spoiled food, caused millions of euros in losses, and sparked fires across approximately 700 stores. Paris prosecutors opened a cybercrime investigation into the incident, though no group has claimed responsibility. The attack exploited vulnerable remote controllers made by Danfoss and Copeland, raising urgent questions about remote access, known controller flaws, and overnight security alarms.
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- ✓ Hackers raised the temperature of refrigerators and freezers at hundreds of French supermarkets overnight to as high as 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
- ✓ The sabotage spoiled food, caused millions of euros in losses, and sparked fires across roughly 700 stores.
- ✓ Paris prosecutors opened a cybercrime probe into the incident, and no group has claimed responsibility.
- ✓ The attacks exploited vulnerable Danfoss and Copeland remote controllers.
What changed
Paris prosecutors opened a formal cybercrime probe as the confirmed toll across impacted stores climbed to 700 supermarkets.
Live updates
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Hackers Heat French Supermarket Fridges, Sparking Fires
Hackers raised temperatures in refrigeration units at hundreds of French supermarkets overnight, forcing freezers up to 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The nationwide cyberattack spoiled food, caused millions of euros in losses, and sparked fires across approximately 700 stores. Paris prosecutors opened a cybercrime investigation into the incident, though no group has claimed responsibility. The attack exploited vulnerable remote controllers made by Danfoss and Copeland, raising urgent questions about remote access, known controller flaws, and overnight security alarms.
Why it matters
This incident highlights vulnerabilities in critical retail infrastructure and the physical risks posed by remote cyberattacks on industrial control systems. Similar disruptions occurred at about a dozen United States military commissaries in late August, resulting in food losses after refrigeration units were similarly compromised.
What is confirmed
- Hackers raised the temperature of refrigerators and freezers at hundreds of French supermarkets overnight to as high as 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The sabotage spoiled food, caused millions of euros in losses, and sparked fires across roughly 700 stores.
- Paris prosecutors opened a cybercrime probe into the incident, and no group has claimed responsibility.
- The attacks exploited vulnerable Danfoss and Copeland remote controllers.
Still unconfirmed
- The attacks share similarities with disruptions reported at about a dozen U.S. military commissaries in late August.
What to watch next
- Identification and potential arrests of the hackers responsible.
- Further disclosures from Danfoss and Copeland regarding the exploited controller flaws.
- Official updates from Paris prosecutors on the cybercrime investigation.
confidence 95%Sources used for this update (10)
- BBC — Fridges in French supermarkets hit by cyber attack
- CNN — Hackers heat French supermarket fridges, sparking fires and spoiling food
- CNBC — Cyber attack hits hundreds of French supermarkets, heating fridges to 122°F and sparking fires
- Reuters — Investigators hunt French supermarket fridge hackers, no claim of responsibility
- www.yahoo.com — Hackers heat French supermarket fridges, sparking fires and ...
- shattered.io — France Fridge Hack Toll Hits 700 Stores, Probe Opens [2026]
- www.therundown.ai — Hackers sabotage refrigeration at hundreds of French supermarkets
- www.nbcnews.com — Investigators hunt hackers who heated French supermarket ...
- www.occrp.org — Hackers Turn French Supermarket Refrigerators Into Furnaces
- www.cnbc.com — French supermarket fridges get hacked, heating to 122°F and ...
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