On the night of October 11–12, 2026, a widespread cyberattack targeted hundreds of supermarkets across France, compromising their refrigeration systems and causing substantial damage. Cybercriminals remotely accessed industrial refrigerators and freezers, manipulating their temperature settings and raising them to a staggering 122 degrees. This malicious interference resulted in vast quantities of perishable goods spoiling, forcing supermarket chains to discard tons of food upon discovery the following morning.
A coordinated breach disrupts French supermarkets
The breach, undetected until store employees arrived to open their shops, led to chaotic scenes in cold storage areas. Temperatures fluctuated wildly, causing the thawing of frozen products and rendering a significant portion of the food inventory unusable. This incident not only inflicted millions of euros in losses but also highlighted vulnerabilities in the increasingly interconnected devices forming the Internet of Things (IoT).
As the attack unfolded, it underscored the potential risks inherent in linking critical infrastructure components, such as refrigeration units, to online networks. The repercussions extended beyond immediate financial loss, sparking renewed discussions about the security and practicality of IoT implementation in essential retail environments.