Hackers Remotely Defrost Hundreds of Supermarket Freezers in France, Causing Fires and Millions in Losses

Hackers manipulated refrigeration systems at hundreds of supermarkets across France, raising temperatures in some fridges and freezers to as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), with fires and food losses reported, according to Reuters. The cyberattack prompted an investigation and raised concerns about the security of internet-connected equipment.

Several major retailers, including Intermarché and Coopérative U, reported incidents affecting their stores on Monday, 12 October 2026. Other major chains were also reportedly affected. The Paris prosecutor's office described the incident as a 'large-scale' attack targeting connected refrigerators at several major food retailers.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu instructed France's National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) to investigate, according to a source in his office cited by Reuters. Authorities were also coordinating with European counterparts to assess whether other countries or French companies were at risk.

Supermarkets Face Millions in Losses

There was no immediate estimate of total retail-sector losses. However, Intermarché chief executive Thierry Cotillard told BFM TV the 'unprecedented' cyberattack could cause losses of 'tens of millions of euros nationwide in a single day.'

BFM TV reported that hackers remotely triggered the forced defrosting of refrigeration systems in numerous stores, reportedly causing fresh and frozen food stocks to spoil. Intermarché separately told AFP that affected stores would have to discard all fresh and frozen products over potential food-safety risks.

Dominique Schelcher, chief executive of Coopérative U, said the attack had disrupted refrigeration systems since Sunday night. 'Targeting equipment essential to preserving fresh products and ensuring the French food supply is extremely serious and unprecedented. It is unacceptable,' he wrote on X. Schelcher said teams were working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible. He added that an investigation was needed to 'shed full light on this attack'.

Outdated Software Under Scrutiny

Supermarket refrigeration networks use centralised control systems to manage fridges and freezers. Remote access allows technicians to monitor equipment, but inadequately secured systems can create cybersecurity risks.

A source close to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu told Reuters that France's National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) had identified a vulnerability in software supplied by Danish engineering company Danfoss. The company said the affected systems were running outdated firmware and that it had long advised customers to update supported systems and migrate legacy equipment to current-generation solutions.

'A Global Wake-Up Call'

The incident has raised concerns about the security of similar systems beyond France. Félix Aimé, a senior cyber threat intelligence analyst at Sekoia Threat Detection and Research, told Reuters that Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany, and Belgium could also face implications from vulnerabilities in connected systems.

Steven Lachance, a cybersecurity analyst, said that the attacks exploiting vulnerable connected equipment were not unprecedented, although this incident was unusual in scale. 'We have connected infrastructure that is live on the internet, and that can be hacked. It's a new reality,' he said, describing the incident as 'a global wake-up call.'

'We absolutely need national and international measures to prevent these attacks, because otherwise it's just going to keep happening,' he said. Lachance warned that similar attacks could also threaten essential services, including energy infrastructure and hospitals.