Shop fridges and freezers across Europe hit by fresh suspected cyber-attack
News Source
β’Mon, 02 Nov 2026 16:39:20 GMT
π° What Happened
Supermarket fridges and freezers in at least seven European countries overheated overnight on Monday. In some shops the temperature hit 50C, spoiling food and forcing staff to throw stock away.
Retailers in Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden reported problems. Several confirmed they had been hacked. Shops in Sweden, Belgium and Ireland posted signs apologising for empty shelves.
The EU's food and agriculture commissioner called it a deliberate attempt to disrupt the food supply chain.
π The Backstory
Last month hackers took over cooling units in up to 700 French supermarkets, pushing temperatures from as low as -27C to over 50C. The damage ran into tens of millions of euros, and Paris prosecutors opened an investigation.
Modern fridges are controlled by internet-connected devices, and thousands were still reachable online after the French attack. Experts say the attacks look like sabotage, not extortion, because no money was demanded. Some fear state-backed groups are testing weak spots in Europe's infrastructure.
π― Why It Matters
Food waste raises prices and can leave shelves empty. It also shows how easily everyday systems like shop fridges can be turned into targets.
Supermarket fridges and freezers in at least seven European countries overheated overnight on Monday. In some shops the temperature hit 50C, spoiling food and forcing staff to throw stock away.
Retailers in Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden reported problems. Several confirmed they had been hacked. Shops in Sweden, Belgium and Ireland posted signs apologising for empty shelves.
The EU's food and agriculture commissioner called it a deliberate attempt to disrupt the food supply chain.
Last month hackers took over cooling units in up to 700 French supermarkets, pushing temperatures from as low as -27C to over 50C. The damage ran into tens of millions of euros, and Paris prosecutors opened an investigation.
Modern fridges are controlled by internet-connected devices, and thousands were still reachable online after the French attack. Experts say the attacks look like sabotage, not extortion, because no money was demanded. Some fear state-backed groups are testing weak spots in Europe's infrastructure.
Food waste raises prices and can leave shelves empty. It also shows how easily everyday systems like shop fridges can be turned into targets.