Shop freezers in seven European countries hit by cyber-attack

Dozens of supermarkets across seven European countries have suffered a cyber-attack targeting their refrigeration systems. The malicious activity forced refrigerator and freezer units to switch to defrost mode, causing internal temperatures to rise rapidly.

Approximately 40 Delhaize supermarkets were affected in Belgium and Luxembourg, alongside a smaller number of shops in Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, Estonia, and Finland. Reports indicate that freezer temperatures in several stores spiked as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit).

Sabcobel, a Belgian refrigeration manufacturer, stated that the method used in this attack appears identical to an incident last month affecting hundreds of French supermarkets, which resulted in millions of euros worth of food spoilage. The company noted that since the October attack, efforts were made to protect customer fridges, though physical modifications rather than software updates were necessary.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Most European supermarkets rely on internet connections for remote maintenance and troubleshooting. Industry experts point out that managing refrigeration units over a secure internet connection is the primary defense strategy adopted by most retailers following the previous French incidents.