Cyberattack disrupts refrigeration systems at European supermarkets

On Monday, a coordinated cyberattack targeted refrigeration and freezer systems across several European countries, including Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Ireland. The incident caused temperatures in connected cooling units to rise sharply, resulting in the loss of significant amounts of perishable food. Reports indicate that at least one Swedish store saw its freezers reach temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit), echoing a similar large-scale attack that occurred in France last month.

Major retailers reported widespread disruptions: Delhaize confirmed issues at 40 locations across Belgium and Luxembourg, while Swedish chains ICA, Coop, and Axfood reported varying levels of impact. In Ireland, 13 SuperValu stores were affected. While the perpetrators remain unidentified, the attack exploited internet-connected cooling infrastructure, forcing many retailers to discard stock and close affected areas. Some companies, including the Musgrave Group (owner of SuperValu), noted that the issue was limited to specific refrigeration models.

National cybersecurity agencies in affected countries are monitoring the situation. Retailers are currently collaborating with equipment suppliers and specialists to investigate the breach, restore systems, and assess the financial impact, which includes millions of euros in product losses and operational downtime.