Cyberattacks Disrupt European Supermarkets, Targeting Refrigeration Systems
Hundreds of stores in France affected, prompting investigations and highlighting vulnerabilities in food supply chains.
Cyberattacks have disrupted supermarket chains across Europe, causing refrigeration systems to overheat at hundreds of stores in France and forcing a major grocer to shut down websites serving customers in Europe and the United States.
French Finance Minister Roland Lescure told Parliament on Tuesday that approximately 700 of the country's 10,000 supermarkets were impacted. He stated that while there was no risk to France's food supplies, the attack "touches the heart of our food security" and served as a "wake-up call for everyone."
The Paris prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the large-scale attack, examining the extent of damage from spoiled food and potential fires.
Dominique Schelcher, CEO of French grocery chain Cooperative U, reported that 80 of the company's 2,000 stores were affected. While most managed to maintain refrigeration, some were forced to discard food. Schelcher described the targeting of equipment essential for preserving fresh products as an "unprecedented, extremely serious, and unacceptable" attack on the French food supply chain.
Danish technology company Danfoss, a supplier of the refrigeration management software, indicated that most affected systems were older products that no longer received software or security updates. The company advised customers to keep supported systems updated with the latest firmware and to operate them behind a firewall. Danfoss is working with affected customers to mitigate damage.
Separately, Dutch supermarket giant Ahold Delhaize confirmed it was working to restore systems that had been shut down due to a security issue. The company, which operates brands like Albert Heijn in the Netherlands, Delhaize in Belgium, and Stop & Shop in the United States, did not provide further details. Websites for several of its brands remained offline Tuesday, though stores continued to operate. Ahold Delhaize stated it had no evidence of customer or employee data being stolen and apologized for any inconvenience caused.