Cyberattack forces fridges to 50 °C in hundreds of French supermarkets, millions of euros of food ruined

Hundreds of French supermarkets were hit by a cyberattack that tampered with refrigeration controls, causing fresh and frozen goods to spoil and forcing chains to discard merchandise worth millions of euros.

The intruders seized control of software that regulates temperatures in chilled and frozen cabinets, and operators reported that some units were driven up to 50 °C during the night, well beyond safe storage limits for perishable food. ([lesnumeriques.com](https://www.lesnumeriques.com/societe-numerique/inedit-et-d-une-extreme-gravite-des-pirates-ont-programme-les-frigos-de-supermarches-francais-a-50-0c-n263216.html?utm_source=openai))

Chains confirm widespread disruption

The chief executive of Système U described the incident as "a serious attack without precedent," and several retail groups said hundreds of sites across France were affected. More than 100 Système U outlets were targeted, while at least 300 stores belonging to Intermarché or its Netto brand also reported problems. ([afp.com](https://www.afp.com/en/french-supermarkets-suffer-refrigerator-shutdown-after-unprecedented-cyberattack?utm_source=openai))

Retailers scrambled overnight to isolate affected equipment, check temperatures and remove spoiled products. Sources in the sector said the disruption centred on connected refrigeration regulators used widely in modern stores, and investigators have opened probes into how the systems were accessed. ([entrevue.fr](https://entrevue.fr/en/cybersecurite/cyberattaque-contre-intermarche-leclerc-et-super-u-des-pirates-font-monter/?utm_source=openai))

The scale of the destruction — fresh produce, dairy and frozen items — has prompted concerns about food waste and supply-chain vulnerability as supermarkets work to restore safe storage settings and evaluate financial losses that industry observers say could run into the millions. Authorities and prosecutors are coordinating technical and criminal inquiries. ([afp.com](https://www.afp.com/en/french-supermarkets-suffer-refrigerator-shutdown-after-unprecedented-cyberattack?utm_source=openai))

Retail groups have not yet given a full estimate of the economic damage or named the perpetrators. Investigations are expected to examine whether the attack exploited weaknesses in refrigeration-control devices supplied by third-party manufacturers and how to harden such equipment against remote intrusion. ([clubic.com](https://www.clubic.com/actualite-633736-des-pirates-ont-fait-chauffer-les-frigos-de-supermarches-leclerc-super-u-et-intermarche-a-50-c-en-pleine-nuit.html?utm_source=openai))

Photo: AP)