Cyberattack in France: Fridges in 150 stores heated up to 50 degrees

Large-scale attack on retail chains

On the night of 12 October, a serious cyber incident was recorded in France, affecting the refrigeration systems of supermarkets belonging to several retail chains. The perpetrators interfered with the operation of the refrigeration units, forcing them to run continuously in defrost mode. As a result, the temperature inside the chambers rose to 50°C, causing fresh and frozen products to spoil.

Damage to the Intermarché chain

According to Les Mousquetaires, the owner of the Intermarché chain, approximately 150 stores were hit. The refrigeration equipment heated up to a critical 50°C for six hours. To avoid potential sanitary risks, all damaged products had to be disposed of.

Reaction from Coopérative U and other market players

Similar problems arose in the supermarkets of the Coopérative U chain. The company's Chief Executive Officer, Dominique Scheller, described the incident as unprecedented. Although he did not disclose the exact number of affected sites, sources in the retail sector indicate that there could have been nearly 100.

Representatives of Carrefour and E.Leclerc also confirmed attacks on individual locations. As of the time the information was released, Monoprix, Auchan, and Metro had not commented on the situation.

Assessment of losses and official investigation

The affected businesses have not officially disclosed the amount of damage incurred. However, experts who consulted journalists suggest that losses could reach millions of euros.

According to sources in the office of French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, he ordered the French National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of this incident. The Paris prosecutor's office has also launched a parallel investigation.

Technical cause of the incident

Experts determined that the attack targeted a vulnerability in the software used to control refrigeration equipment manufactured by the Danish company Danfoss. This system was installed in the affected supermarkets.