Hackers target French supermarket refrigeration systems

Cyberattacks targeting refrigeration controllers at hundreds of supermarkets in France caused temperatures in cold cases to rise to as high as 50 degrees Celsius. The incident affected major chains including Intermarché, Carrefour, Coopérative U, and Monoprix, resulting in the loss of tons of spoiled food and significant economic damages.

Investigators suggest that hackers may have used artificial intelligence to scale the attack. By accessing controllers via the internet, attackers reportedly manipulated defrost cycles to prevent alarms from triggering, allowing temperatures to rise undetected for several hours. The breach was facilitated by a single vendor's controllers being used across multiple chains.

While the specific vulnerabilities are under investigation, the incident highlights systemic risks in internet-connected food supply infrastructure. Similar controller brands are used in American stores, raising concerns about the potential for widespread food security disruptions.