Cyberattack Overheats Refrigeration in French Supermarkets

WHO:

CNN - Felix Aime, a senior cyber threat intelligence analyst at Sekoia Threat Detection and Research, stated that Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany, and Belgium had also been affected by the cyberattack.

CNN - Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu instructed France’s National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) to investigate the cyberattack.

CNN - Cooperative U CEO Dominique Schelcher stated that targeting equipment essential to food preservation is of "extreme gravity and is unprecedented."

Techmeme - Danfoss-managed refrigeration systems were targeted.

BBC News - Hundreds of supermarkets in France were affected.

WHAT:

CNN - The Paris prosecutor’s office stated that the attack was “large-scale,” affecting connected refrigerators in several major food retailers across France, leading to food losses and fires.

CBS News - The cyberattack caused fires in hundreds of stores due to the elevated temperatures in refrigerators.

CNN - Les Mousquetaires reported that fridges at around 150 of its stores were heated to 50°C for six hours overnight.

CNN - Cooperative U CEO Dominique Schelcher described the attack as "unprecedented."

CNN - Christel Delberghe, director general at European retail association Eurocommerce, emphasized the importance of resilience across the entire supply chain in light of the incident.

CNN - The Paris prosecutor’s office described the attack as “large-scale,” affecting connected refrigerators in several major food retailers across France.

CNN - A spokesperson for Les Mousquetaires confirmed that all affected food had been discarded to eliminate health risks.

CNN - Intermarche CEO Thierry Cotillard estimated that the attack would represent losses amounting to "tens of millions of euros nationwide in a single day."

CNN - Danfoss reported that the affected refrigeration units "were running outdated firmware."

CBS News - The cyberattack caused refrigerators to shoot up in temperature, sparking fires in some stores.

BBC News - The cyberattack forced stores to throw out damaged food, with the total estimated loss in food value reaching millions of euros.

Techmeme - Cyberattacks disabled refrigeration systems, heating them to 50°C for roughly six hours.

BBC News - The hack spoiled fresh and frozen food estimated to be worth millions of euros.

WHERE:

CNN - Carrefour reported that 80 of its supermarkets were affected, while Monoprix stated that 5 percent of its 490 stores were impacted.

CNN - Les Mousquetaires, owner of Intermarche, confirmed that fridges at around 150 of its stores were affected.

Techmeme - The attacks targeted supermarkets across France.

WHEN:

Techmeme - The cyberattacks occurred on Sunday night.

WHY:

Techmeme - The motivations behind the cyberattacks were not specified in the articles.

HOW:

CNN - ANSSI identified a vulnerability in software supplied by Danfoss, which had been detailed in research published by cybersecurity firm Claroty’s Team82 on August 9.

CNN - Danfoss reported that the affected refrigeration units "were running outdated firmware" and had advised customers to keep systems updated with the latest firmware.

CNN - ANSSI identified a vulnerability in software supplied by Danfoss, which had been detailed in research published by cybersecurity firm Claroty’s Team82 on August 9.

CNET - Hackers took advantage of a software vulnerability, demonstrating that any connected appliance on the internet can be a target.

Techmeme - The method of the cyberattack involved targeting refrigeration systems managed by Danfoss.

(UPDATED October 13, 2026 12:01 UTC)

A large-scale cyberattack in France has resulted in significant food losses and fires, affecting connected refrigerators in major food retailers. The attack, described as "unprecedented" by Cooperative U CEO Dominique Schelcher, caused fridges at around 150 stores to heat up to 50°C for six hours overnight, leading to fires in hundreds of locations. Authorities have identified a vulnerability in software supplied by Danfoss, which was previously detailed in research by cybersecurity firm Claroty’s Team82.

(UPDATED October 13, 2026 01:34 UTC)

A large-scale cyberattack has impacted connected refrigeration units at major food retailers across France, with the Paris prosecutor’s office confirming the incident. Felix Aime, a senior cyber threat intelligence analyst at Sekoia Threat Detection and Research, reported that Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany, and Belgium have also been affected by this breach. In response, a spokesperson for Les Mousquetaires stated that all contaminated food has been discarded to eliminate any health risks, while Danfoss emphasized the importance of keeping refrigeration systems updated with the latest firmware to prevent such incidents.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 22:00 UTC)

In response to a significant cyberattack affecting food preservation equipment, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has directed France’s National Cybersecurity Agency to conduct an investigation. Cooperative U CEO Dominique Schelcher described the targeting of such critical infrastructure as unprecedented, with Intermarche CEO Thierry Cotillard estimating losses could reach tens of millions of euros in just one day. The attack impacted around 80 Carrefour supermarkets, 5 percent of Monoprix's stores, and approximately 150 Intermarche locations, with a vulnerability in Danfoss software identified as the source of the breach.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 21:04 UTC)

Hackers have exploited a software vulnerability, showing that any internet-connected appliance can be at risk. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of cybersecurity in our increasingly connected world. As technology advances, the need for robust security measures becomes more critical than ever.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 19:05 UTC)

A significant cyberattack has led to refrigerators malfunctioning and rising in temperature, which has resulted in fires breaking out in some stores. This alarming incident was reported by CBS News earlier today. Authorities are currently investigating the extent of the damage and the cause of the attack.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 18:00 UTC)

A significant cyberattack has forced stores to discard damaged food, resulting in an estimated loss in food value reaching millions of euros. The incident has raised concerns about the security of supply chains and the impact on businesses. As the situation develops, authorities are working to assess the full extent of the damage.

(UPDATED October 12, 2026 17:04 UTC)

Cyberattacks have disabled refrigeration systems in hundreds of supermarkets across France, heating them to 50 degrees Celsius for about six hours. This incident has resulted in the spoilage of fresh and frozen food, with losses estimated to be worth millions of euros. The attacks, which specifically targeted Danfoss-managed systems, occurred on a Sunday night, although the motivations behind the cyberattacks remain unclear.