Fastrack · Cyberattack Heats French Supermarket Fridges to 50C, Spoiling Food

Hackers remotely forced refrigeration systems in hundreds of French supermarkets into defrost mode overnight Sunday. Stores had to throw out fresh and frozen products.

150 to 200 Intermarché stores were affected, the chain said.
About 100 Coopérative U stores were also hit.
50C air pushed fridge interiors to 36C, according to the Daily Mail.
E. Leclerc said hackers breached one of its refrigeration equipment suppliers.

Why it matters: The attackers did not steal data or demand ransom, according to reports. They destroyed perishable inventory through connected equipment.

Intermarché owner Groupement Mousquetaires estimates losses of several million euros.
Intermarché warned some insurance policies may not cover this type of incident.

How 19 sources split on this story

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Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

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Coverage by lean% of 19 sources

19 sources · 24 articles · 48% Center coverage

Center9 sources

France 241hFrench supermarkets suffer refrigerator shutdown after 'unprecedented' cyberattack PennLive3hGiant confirms cyberattack that took down its website BBC News8hFridges in French supermarkets hit by cyber attack Bloomberg9hFrench Supermarket Refrigeration Sites Hit by Cyberattacks CNET2hCyberattack Targets French Supermarket Refrigerators, Forcing Mass Food Disposal - CNET Deutsche Welle4hHundreds of French supermarkets hit by a cyberattack that turned up the heat in refrigeration systems Jerusalem Post0mHackers heat French supermarket fridges, sparking fires, spoiling food Reuters9hFrench supermarket chain Intermarche hit by cyberattack, 150 stores targeted Sky News7hHackers heat French supermarket fridges to 50C in 'large-scale' cyber attack

Left5 sources

The Independent7hHow hackers took down supermarket fridges across France in major cyberattack Cleveland.com3hHackers cause fires, spoiled food in attack on French refrigerators, freezers CNN1hHackers heat French supermarket fridges, sparking fires and spoiling food Gizmodo1hHackers Overheat Fridges at Supermarkets Across France, Wasting Food and Starting Fires The Guardian7hCyber-attack defrosts refrigerators in two French supermarket chains

Right coverage, 5 sources: The right frames the attack as a warning about vulnerable connected infrastructure, set against France's concern over possible Russian hybrid operations.

ZeroHedge8hCyberattack Disrupts Refrigeration Systems At Hundreds Of French Supermarkets Daily Mail9hCyber attackers defrost freezers in hundreds of supermarkets across France, costing them millions NTD7hFrench Supermarkets Hit by Cyberattack That Caused Refrigeration Units to Defrost The Sun4hSupermarket fridges hacked across France as temps soar to 50C spoiling millions worth of frozen food Washington Examiner4hHackers target refrigerators in France, overheating them and causing fires

What’s next: Paris prosecutors opened an investigation to identify victims and link the attack to food losses and fires.

Carrefour Market and Monoprix may also have been targeted but have not confirmed it.
Who carried out the attack, and why?
How did attackers gain access through the equipment supplier?
Will insurers cover the losses?