Cyberattack Heats French Supermarket Freezers, Spoiling Food and Sparking Fires

• •Hundreds of French supermarkets suffered a cyberattack causing food spoilage and fires.
• •The attack exploited outdated firmware in Danfoss refrigeration systems.
• •Estimated losses could reach tens of millions of euros nationwide.

A cyberattack has targeted hundreds of French supermarkets, raising the temperatures of refrigerators and freezers to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), resulting in significant food spoilage and fires. The attack affected major chains including Intermarché, Netto, Monoprix, and Carrefour, with estimates of losses reaching tens of millions of euros. The Paris Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred overnight on October 10-11, 2026. The Danish company Danfoss, which provides refrigeration controllers, reported that many affected systems were running outdated firmware. Security experts have identified the attack as 'Defrost Bypass', exploiting vulnerabilities in Danfoss's older AK-SM800 and AK-SC355 controllers. French authorities are coordinating with European counterparts to assess the broader impact, as other countries may also be affected.