Cyberattack Strikes French Grocery Stores: Refrigeration Systems Targeted

A recent cyberattack in France forced numerous grocery stores to dispose of large quantities of temperature-sensitive food. Hackers disrupted refrigeration systems across several major chains, including Carrefour, Monoprix, Les Mousquetaires, E. Leclerc, and Coopérative U. The compromised systems led to the spoilage of food, causing significant losses.

Coopérative U’s CEO acknowledged the cyberattack and shared the news on social media. He expressed the company’s commitment to restoring operations swiftly, working closely with refrigeration specialists. He also highlighted the severity of attacking equipment critical to preserving fresh products and the nation’s food supply.

The Paris prosecutor’s office deemed the incident a large-scale attack, impacting connected refrigerators at various retailers across France. Carrefour reported around 80 of its stores were affected, while Monoprix specified that 5% of its 490 locations in France were hit.

One of the chains, Les Mousquetaires, revealed that refrigerators in approximately 150 stores had their temperatures elevated to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) for a duration of six hours, requiring the disposal of all affected food. The financial impact of the attack is substantial, with forecasts exceeding 10 million euros (about $11.2 million).

During a televised interview, Intermarche CEO Thierry Cotillard speculated that the nationwide loss amounted to tens of millions of euros in a single day. Investigators identified the hackers had targeted refrigeration controls manufactured by Danfoss, known for legacy products prone to security vulnerabilities due to outdated software and firmware.

France’s Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu tasked the National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) with investigating the incident. ANSSI detected a vulnerability in software from the Danish manufacturer, releasing a statement through an AFP source connected to the prime minister.

EU Commissioner Christophe Hansen reacted strongly against the cyberattack, underscoring the implications for European food safety. He emphasized heightened focus on food security at every level and the need for countering the weaponization of food.

The incident has prompted inquiries at various levels, and Fox News Digital reached out to the affected companies and officials for comments.