Cyberattack Hits Hundreds of French Supermarkets, Overheating Fridges to 122°F and Sparking Fires
A cyberattack struck hundreds of French supermarkets, causing refrigerators and freezers to overheat, food to spoil and fires to break out, according to CNBC, which cited Reuters. Coopérative U's CEO condemned the attack, and a European commissioner warned about food security.
Fridges at French supermarket chains including Carrefour, Monoprix, Les Mousquetaires-owned Intermarché and Coopérative U, among others, heated up to that level overnight, Reuters reported Monday.
Coopérative U Chief Executive Dominique Schelcher confirmed that cyberattacks had affected "refrigeration production facilities of several stores." In a LinkedIn post, he said, "Attacking equipment that is essential to the preservation of fresh products and the food supply of the French people is extremely serious and unprecedented. It is unacceptable."
Felix Aime, a senior cyber threat intelligence analyst at Sekoia Threat Detection and Research, said the attack affected several European countries including Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany and Belgium, according to Reuters.
European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen said in a post on X on Monday: "I strongly condemn the cyberattack targeting food products at @intermarche @CooperativeU @Leclerc." He added: "Food security requires more attention at all levels. Because the weaponization of food has become a reality."
The reports did not identify a group as responsible. CNBC said it reached out to Carrefour, Monoprix, Intermarché, Coopérative U and E Leclerc for comment but did not immediately hear back. The accounts focused on refrigeration systems used to preserve fresh products.