Remote attacks on supermarket fridges force European stores to bin fresh and frozen stock

Dozens of grocery stores in Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg and Sweden have reported mass food wastage after attackers remotely interfered with commercial fridges and freezers, according to The Register. Temperatures were reportedly pushed as high as 50ºC (122°F). The attacks continue an earlier run of incidents targeting refrigeration equipment in Europe.

In Belgium, around 40 Delhaize stores were affected after fridges and freezers were reportedly switched into defrost mode overnight between Sunday and Monday. One store manager near Brussels described the impact as "catastrophic" and said the store had to throw out all of its fresh and frozen products. Delhaize said it identified an "IT incident" affecting refrigeration systems in several dozen stores, and that its distribution centres and deliveries were operating normally, though fresh and frozen ranges were temporarily limited. Around 15 Carrefour stores were reportedly affected, along with sites run by Intermarché, Spar, and Shop & Go at Q8 service stations. A butcher chain, De Laet & Van Haver, saw temperature rises but said its produce was not affected.

In Sweden, grocery chain ICA confirmed an overnight incident affecting a small number of stores operating outside its central network. The reports show how attacks on everyday operational equipment, not just office computers, can quickly cause real financial loss and disruption.