Hacker Attack Fears After Swedish Supermarkets See Fridges Heat Up To 50c

A handful of Swedish supermarkets saw temperatures in their refrigerators and freezers soar, following similar incidents related to cyberattacks in other countries.

The Swedish chains Ica and Coop told AFP they had no information as yet that their refrigeration systems had been subjected to a cyberattack.

Ica told AFP "a limited number" of it stores had been affected, but did not yet have an exact number.

"We are looking into what has happened and the scale of it," spokesperson Helena Johansson said, adding that the company was focusing on how to help affected stores.

One of its stores, in Sjöbo in southern Sweden, posted on that its fridges and freezers had "been hacked and they set the temperature at 50C".

The Coop chain said six of its around 800 stores in Sweden had problems with its fridges and freezers and had to throw out food that spoiled or risked being spoiled.

"Fridges and freezers have either stopped working entirely or have been partially impaired," Coop spokesman Carlos Cancino told AFP.

"I haven't received any information that this is a cyberattack," he added.

Similar problems were also reported in Belgium and Luxembourg on November 2nd .

On October 12th, major French retailers said hundreds of stores were hit by a cyberattack on their refrigeration systems, which forced them to throw out food and raised concerns food security.

In that incident, refrigeration control systems from Danish manufacturer Danfoss were targeted.

Danfoss has not responded to AFP's request for a on Monday.

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