French investigators are searching for hackers who remotely manipulated refrigeration systems at at least 350 supermarkets, including Carrefour, Monoprix, Intermarché and Coopérative U. The attack altered fridge and freezer temperatures, causing food to spoil and forcing stores to discard meat and frozen goods, according to Reuters. No hacking group has claimed responsibility, and investigators have not identified a ransom demand, leaving the motive unclear.
The attack appears to have exploited outdated software in refrigeration controllers made by Danish company Danfoss. Cybersecurity experts say known vulnerabilities and internet-exposed systems may have made the equipment easy to compromise. Reuters identified at least 4,500 Danfoss interfaces still accessible online, highlighting the ongoing risk from poorly secured connected devices. The incident underscores the need for businesses to update software, replace unsupported equipment, and strengthen operational technology cybersecurity.
