Hackers have targeted hundreds of supermarkets in France in a cyberattack that reportedly caused refrigerators and freezers to overheat, spoiling food and triggering fires.
According to Reuters, refrigeration systems at several major supermarket chains, including Carrefour, Monoprix, Intermarché and Coopérative U, were affected, with temperatures reportedly rising to as high as 50 degrees Celsius overnight.
The Chief Executive Officer of Coopérative U, Dominique Schelcher, confirmed that cyberattacks had affected the refrigeration facilities of several stores.
In a post on LinkedIn, Schelcher condemned the attacks, describing them as serious and unprecedented because they targeted equipment essential to preserving fresh food and maintaining the country’s food supply.
“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,” he said.
Felix Aime, a senior cyber threat intelligence analyst at Sekoia Threat Detection and Research, said the attack had also affected several other European countries, including Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany and Belgium, Reuters reported.
The incident drew condemnation from European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen, who expressed concern over the targeting of food products at Intermarché, Coopérative U and E Leclerc.
In a post on X on Monday, Hansen said, “Food security requires more attention at all levels. Because the weaponization of food has become a reality.”
Boluwatife Enome
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