Hundreds of supermarkets in France have been hit by an unprecedented cyber attack that caused fridges and freezers to heat up, with damages potentially totaling millions in losses for businesses. Hackers gained control of software regulating the temperature of refrigeration units and increased the heat to a reported 50C, causing food to spoil.
Attack on major retail chains
The attack impacted more than 100 Coopérative U supermarket outlets in France. At least 300 stores from Intermarché and its Netto brand were also affected. Intermarché stated their fridges had been heated to 50C for six hours overnight into Monday morning. The French supermarket chain added they have since thrown away all affected food to avoid wider health risks.
Two supermarkets in the Alsace region reported losses of £228,000 (€270,000). French broadcaster BFMTV stated the full extent of the hack could cost the nation millions. Supermarket staff at some affected stores revealed they were hit with hot air after opening fridges and freezers on Monday morning.
Investigation and response
The Paris Prosecutor's office has revealed they have triggered an investigation into the incident. Prosecutors called the attack a "large-scale cyber-attack affecting the refrigerators of several major food retail chains across France." European Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen took to social media to condemn the cyber food attack, posting on X: "Food security requires more attention at all levels. Because the weaponisation of food has become a reality."
Reports also stated specialist retail and local media said stores from other food giants, including Carrefour, E.Leclerc and Monoprix, were also hit in the cyber attack. The full scale of the attack is currently unknown.
Industry reaction and recent incidents
In a post on X, Coopérative chief executive Dominique Schelcher said staff were "fully mobilised, in co-ordination with refrigeration specialists, to restore the situation as quickly as possible." Schelcher called for an investigation into the hack and added that targeting equipment essential to the French food supply was "unacceptable."
The development comes only days after Asos customers were sent into a panic after the app was hit with a cyber attack, with hackers declaring the fashion giant had been "fully compromised." The hack occurred before 10am on October 6, with a message to customers titled 'ASOS HACKED' reading: "Dear Asos DPO and IT, we have fully compromised the Snowflake instance. Engage with us, or we will leak it." The app notification ended with a link directing them to a Telegram account, which many on social media say they dare not click on or visit.
