Cyberattack Manipulates Supermarket Freezers Across Seven EU Nations
Hackers remotely altered refrigeration controls in more than 100 stores in seven EU countries, causing temperatures to rise to 50-55°C and leading to food spoilage.
Hackers disrupted refrigeration systems in at least seven European Union countries on Nov. 2, remotely raising temperatures in freezers and chillers and forcing retailers to discard perishable goods. The incidents affected over 100 stores in Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Estonia and the Netherlands.
In Sweden, supermarket chain Coop reported problems at several locations, while ICA said a limited number of its stores were impacted; an ICA Nära store in Boda recorded a freezer temperature of 55°C, and another ICA outlet in Sjöbo reached 50°C. Belgian retailers including Carrefour, Delhaize and Spar experienced refrigeration issues, with Carrefour noting problems at about 15 of its more than 700 stores. Ahold Delhaize reported an overnight IT incident that affected dozens of stores in Belgium and Luxembourg.
Ireland’s Musgrave Group said refrigeration systems at 13 SuperValu stores were affected, requiring the removal of chilled and frozen products from sale. In Finland, Kesko detected temperature anomalies at several smaller K-food stores and has not ruled out network-based interference. Estonia’s Selver supermarket saw its refrigeration controller set to 50°C, but the issue was resolved within minutes, limiting damage.
The Netherlands saw at least 17 businesses, including butcher shops and a frozen-food storage facility, targeted, according to equipment supplier Danfoss. Some of the compromised systems used remote-control technology from Danfoss and Copeland, with Danfoss noting that certain units remained connected to unsecured networks and still used default passwords.
Internet-connected refrigeration controllers allow remote monitoring and adjustments, but unauthorized access can enable attackers to change temperature settings or trigger extended defrost cycles, risking large-scale food loss. The November incidents follow a similar attack three weeks earlier that affected around 700 French supermarkets, pushing temperatures above 50°C and causing extensive food waste and fires.
No group has claimed responsibility for the latest wave, and authorities have not identified the attackers or their motives.