Hackers cause fires, spoiled food in attack on French refrigerators, freezers

Hackers remotely altered the temperature settings of refrigerators and freezers at approximately 500 supermarkets across France overnight on Sunday. The cyberattack raised internal temperatures to as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), resulting in the spoilage of thousands of products and triggering small fires within some of the affected stores.

The incident highlights vulnerabilities in commercial refrigeration infrastructure and the physical risks associated with remote digital intrusions. The coordinated operation targeted hundreds of locations simultaneously, causing widespread material damage through food loss and fire hazards.