October 13, 2026, 12:28 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
A cyberattack on connected refrigeration systems has caused massive damage in France. Several large supermarket chains were affected, and food had to be disposed of.
Hackers remotely manipulated the connected refrigeration systems of numerous French supermarkets. According to the affected companies, the attack hit up to 200 Intermarché stores and nearly 100 Coopérative U markets. An Intermarché spokesperson stated that the attackers triggered “the defrosting of the cooling systems.”
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The French prosecutor’s office also describes it as a “large-scale cyberattack on the connected refrigeration systems of several major food markets across the country.” A unit specializing in cybercrime has taken over the investigation. In some of the affected supermarkets, a fire reportedly broke out as a result of the attack.
Cooling Systems Heated Up to 50 Degrees
Cooling systems have an automatic defrost function that removes accumulated frost. According to experts, such systems can be programmed to defrost for two hours within a 24-hour period. However, the attackers altered this setting and allowed the process to run continuously.
According to a report by “BFMTV”, the systems reached temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius. The affected refrigeration systems were from the Danish manufacturer Danfoss. In addition to Intermarché and Coopérative U, the attack also hit markets of E.Leclerc, Monoprix, and Carrefour.
Food Worth Millions of Euros Affected
Due to the manipulated cooling systems, large quantities of chilled and frozen food spoiled and had to be discarded. The total damage is not yet definitively known, but media reports suggest it could amount to several million euros. According to Intermarché, insurance does not cover such damages.
The severity of the impact on individual stores is illustrated by an Intermarché in Hagenau, Alsace. There, the entire stock of frozen products was reportedly lost. This damage alone is estimated to be around 50,000 euros.