Cyberattack Freezes Supermarkets Across Europe

Supermarket chains across several European countries have been impacted by a coordinated cyberattack, resulting in widespread spoilage of frozen and chilled goods. This incident follows a similar attack in France last month. The hack specifically targeted refrigeration units, causing temperatures to rise within freezer compartments.

The cyberattack affected numerous Delhaize supermarkets in Belgium and Luxembourg, alongside other chains in Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Estonia. The method involved setting freezer units to a 'Defrost' mode, which in some instances led to internal temperatures reaching as high as 50°C (122°F).

Authorities and cybersecurity firms from Belgium, Sweden, and the United Kingdom are collaborating to understand the full scope of the incident. Experts have identified that the attackers exploited the same vulnerability used in the previous French attack. Some of the affected freezer systems are reportedly older models with no available software patches, leaving them susceptible to such exploits.