Cyberattack on French Supermarkets Disrupts Refrigeration Systems

• •The attack impacted over 350 supermarkets, causing significant food spoilage.
• •Attackers exploited weak passwords and inadequate protections in refrigeration systems.
• •The incident highlights vulnerabilities in aging operational technology used by retailers.

On October 12, 2026, a cyberattack targeted hundreds of French supermarkets, including major retailers like Carrefour and Intermarché, causing refrigeration systems to malfunction and temperatures to soar to 50°C. This incident affected at least 350 stores, resulting in significant food spoilage and financial losses estimated in millions of euros. The attackers exploited vulnerabilities in operational technology, specifically targeting outdated refrigeration management systems from Danfoss. Investigations by France’s National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) revealed that the compromised systems had weak passwords and inadequate protections, rather than exploiting known vulnerabilities. The incident has raised concerns about the security of legacy systems and the need for organizations to secure their operational technology. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility, and investigations are ongoing.