Cyberattacks target supermarket refrigeration systems across Europe
A second wave of cyberattacks has disrupted supermarket refrigeration across Europe, leading to significant food spoilage in multiple countries.
Supermarkets across Europe are reporting widespread food loss following a series of cyberattacks that remotely disabled refrigeration units. Major retailers, including Ahold Delhaize and Colruyt, confirmed that attackers accessed control systems to force defrost cycles, causing temperatures to rise and rendering inventory unsafe for sale.
The compromised units are primarily manufactured by Danfoss. Security firm Claroty identified vulnerabilities in these controllers in August, warning that they were susceptible to remote exploits. Industry experts have pointed to a critical lack of security updates for these legacy devices as a primary factor enabling the ongoing campaign.
This incident follows a similar pattern of attacks observed in France last month and adds to growing concerns regarding the security of essential infrastructure. These events highlight how weaknesses in industrial internet-connected systems can cause immediate disruptions to the food supply chain, a problem that has previously impacted major distributors in the United States.