European supermarkets and retailers hit by cyberattacks targeting fridge and freezer systems
Hackers tampered with internet-connected refrigeration systems at grocery chains and an IKEA store across multiple European countries, forcing retailers to discard ruined food stocks as temperatures soared.
Grocery chains across several European nations were forced to dump ruined chilled and frozen food after suspected cyberattacks caused refrigeration units to overheat. Retailers in countries including Belgium, Sweden, Luxembourg, Estonia, Ireland, and Finland reported sudden overnight temperature spikes in store coolers, with some freezers driven as high as 50°C (122°F). An IKEA store in Mons, Belgium, also experienced temperature increases across its refrigeration systems during the disruptions.[2][3][5][9][13]
Major European retail brands bore the brunt of the temperature manipulation. In Sweden, where operators ICA and Coop dominate the grocery market, cooling units across multiple locations malfunctioned. A Coop spokesperson confirmed that unauthorized actors accessed and tampered with cooling controls at a fraction of its outlets, while an ICA location in Sjöbo delayed opening after hundreds of thousands of Swedish kronor worth of frozen stock was destroyed. In Belgium, approximately 40 Delhaize locations and 15 Carrefour outlets reported warming freezers, and chains including Ireland's SuperValu and Finland's Kesko reported refrigeration issues.[4][5][10][12]
The wave of tampering follows a similar wave of incidents in France in October that disrupted hundreds of supermarkets and prompted warnings from the European Union of deliberate attempts to undermine the bloc's food supply chains. Investigators point to security flaws in internet-connected refrigeration controllers as the entry point. Following the European incidents, Israel's national cyber agency issued urgent warnings advising domestic food companies and supermarket chains to immediately inspect their connected refrigeration equipment.[6][7][8][10]
Key facts
- Cyberattacks caused sudden temperature spikes in supermarket refrigerators and freezers across European nations including Belgium, Sweden, Luxembourg, Estonia, Ireland, and Finland.
- Refrigeration systems at an IKEA outlet in Mons, Belgium, were also disrupted by the cyberattack.
- Freezers in several affected stores were pushed to temperatures as high as 50°C (122°F), forcing staff to discard large amounts of spoiled food.
- A spokesperson for Swedish supermarket chain Coop confirmed that unauthorized actors accessed and tampered with cooling systems at a small fraction of its stores.
- In Belgium, around 40 Delhaize supermarkets and 15 Carrefour locations reported freezers warming up to 15°C.
- The disruptions follow an early October cyber incident in France that impacted between 400 and 700 supermarkets through internet-connected refrigeration controllers.
- Israel's cyber agency warned domestic retail chains and food companies to immediately review their refrigeration controllers following the European incidents.
Sources · 11 sources
- DE
Dexerto@DexertoPost on X ·
Supermarkets across Europe have been hit by a cyberattack that causes fridges and freezers to heat up to 122°F Stores have dumped spoiled food following the attack https://t.co/75ZHLb7ukr
Open source - PR
ProtosArticle ·
European supermarket fridges hacked again Fridges in supermarkets across Europe have been hacked and set to defrost for a second time this year as part of a cyberattack that will likely cause millions of euros worth of damage. BNO News reports that fridges in Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Ireland, Estonia, and the Netherlands were hacked last night. Affected fridges were programmed to defrost and reach temperatures up to 158°F (70°C), causing chilled foods to spoil. BREAKING: Swedish grocery giant ICA, one of Sweden's largest supermarket chains, says several of its stores have been hit by a cyberattack overnight, causing refrigerators and freezers to be remotely set to 50°C. The incident has likely resulted in large quantities of food… pic.twitter.com/wrcmGHw1qV — GeoInsider (@InsiderGeo) November 2, 2026 Food supplies have been largely disrupted as a result of the cyberattack. Read more: LIVE: Binance resumes withdrawals leading to $6B outflows Unlike many cybercriminals, the fridge hackers aren’t attempting to extract a crypto ransom or siphon any funds. Instead, it appears that whoever’s behind the attacks just wants to cause chaos and damage physical infrastructure in Europe. Someone really doesn’t like functioning fridges Hundreds of French supermarket fridges were also hacked last month. At the time, Intermarché CEO Thierry Cotillard told publishers that he expects losses to amount to “tens of millions of euros nationwide in a single day.” Another cyberattack in August also disrupted freezers across at least six US military bases. The Pentagon is now coordinating with French authorities in their investigation. Potential culprits include teenagers and Russia Gérôme Billois, who is a partner in the Cybersecurity Business Unit at Wavestone, told The Guardian that the culprits in these attacks will likely be youngsters and activists, or state-sponsored actors. He suggested that the fridge incident is most likely a destabilisation attack “designed to convey the message to populations that they are not safe, to convey the impression that the government is falling apart, and ultimately to instil fear.” “Currently there are two international actors known for doing this sort of thing: Iran and Russia,” Billois said. Got a tip? Send us an email securely via Protos Leaks . For more informed news and investigations, follow us on X , Bluesky , and Google News , or subscribe to our YouTube channel. The post European supermarket fridges hacked again appeared first on Protos .
Open source - ET
Economic Times@EconomicTimesPost on X ·
IKEA store in Belgium hit by fridge cyberattack; refrigeration systems impacted as supermarkets across Europe face issues https://t.co/PqeYME802t
Open source - CB
Coin Bureau@coinbureauPost on X ·
BREAKING: European supermarkets hit by CYBERATTACKS that caused freezers to overheat up to 55°C. The latest incidents hit stores in Sweden and Belgium, forcing retailers to throw away food. ICA and Coop, which account for 67.3% of Sweden’s grocery retail market, reported overheating freezers overnight on Monday. “Everything is ruined,” said an ICA store manager in Sjöbo, where frozen food worth hundreds of thousands of Swedish kronor was destroyed. In Belgium, around 40 Delhaize stores and 15 Carrefour locations reported freezers warmed to 15°C. Similar incidents have happened before. Last month, hackers targeted refrigeration at hundreds of French supermarkets, causing food losses and reported fires. In August, freezer failures spoiled food at at least six US military grocery stores. No link between these incidents has been established. The incidents add to broader concerns over cyberattacks on banks, websites and crypto platforms.
Open source - MI
Mint@livemintPost on X ·
Supermarkets across Europe were hit by suspected cyberattacks on Monday that caused sudden temperature spikes in fridges and freezers, raising fears of a repeat of last month’s disruption in France. Stores operated by Ahold Delhaize, Carrefour Belgium, Spar, Musgrave’s SuperValu in Ireland, ICA and Coop in Sweden, and Kesko in Finland reported refrigeration issues. Some freezers reportedly reached 50°C, forcing the removal of chilled and frozen products. Watch: https://t.co/6AV5Ja55cL
Open source - MN
Mario Nawfal@MarioNawfalPost on X ·
🇮🇱 Israel is warning its supermarkets that hackers could take over their freezers. Hackers in Europe have been breaking into store refrigeration systems through internet-connected controllers and cranking them up as high as 50°C. Food was thrown out and some cases ended in fires, with France hit first in October and stores across 5 more countries now reporting the same problem. Israel’s cyber agency has told retail chains and food companies to check their systems right away and report back. Outdated fridge controllers have quietly become a weak spot in the food supply. Source: i24 News / Writer: Daniyal
Open source - TH
The Hindu@the_hinduPost on X ·
A suspected cyberattack hit grocery stores across at least nine European countries on Monday, prompting the EU to warn of a deliberate attempt to disrupt the bloc's food supply chain. https://t.co/p4XFfRlWsA
Open source - 아시
아시아경제@asiae_dailyPost on X ·
냉동고가 무려 50도…유럽 마트가 찜통 된 이유 🧊🔥 유럽 슈퍼마켓들이 잇단 해킹 공격에 쑥대밭이 됐습니다. 프랑스에 이어 벨기에·스웨덴 등에서도 냉장·냉동 설비가 공격받으면서 대규모 식품 폐기 피해가 우려되고 있는데요. 해커들이 원격으로 냉장 설비를 조작해 온도를 높인 겁니다. 일부 매장에선 냉동고 온도가 무려 50도까지 치솟았습니다. #카르푸 #델레이즈 등 대형 유통업체도 피해를 입었습니다. EU는 이번 공격을 식량 공급을 방해하려는 의도적 행위로 규정했습니다. 냉동고까지 해킹당하는 시대, 대체 누가 이런 일을 벌인 걸까요? https://t.co/IUVHAOBp0L
Open source - QU
Quartz@qzPost on X ·
Suspected cyberattack hit supermarket freezers across Europe in second wave: Retailers in Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Estonia and Ireland reported temperature spikes; no one has claimed responsibility dlvr.it/TW8nxk https://t.co/EfMPW6w1WF
Open source - MN
Mario Nawfal@MarioNawfalPost on X ·
🚨🇸🇪 Hackers attacked several ICA supermarkets in Sweden overnight, remotely pushing refrigeration systems to a staggering 50°C (122°F). At an ICA supermarket in Sjöbo, the attack sent temperatures soaring inside refrigerators and freezers, ruining perishable stock and forcing the supermarket to delay opening until 9 a.m. Another ICA supermarket in Tomelilla reported a similar attack. The incidents follow a major cyberattack in France in early October, when approximately 400 supermarkets were reportedly affected, with some estimates reaching 700 stores.” Investigations into those attacks have pointed to security flaws in internet-connected refrigeration controllers, allowing hackers to remotely override temperatures. It remains unclear who carried out the attacks or whether the same hackers were responsible for the incidents in Sweden and France. Source: Market Screener / Writer: Mhedi
Open source - MT
MTS@MTSlivePost on X ·
SITUATION DETECTED: Cyberattacks targeting refrigeration controllers with outdated firmware are now hitting supermarkets in Belgium, Sweden, Ireland, Luxembourg, Estonia, Finland, and the Netherlands -mirroring similar attacks in France and at US military bases since late August.
Open source - BI
Business Insider@BusinessInsiderPost on X ·
"Unauthorized actors were able to access and tamper with the cooling systems at a small fraction of our stores," said a spokesperson at Swedish supermarket chain Coop. https://t.co/T9cgxnsG6O
Open source - ET
Economic Times@EconomicTimesPost on X ·
Cyberattack disrupts refrigeration systems at IKEA store in Belgium | IKEA's store in Mons experienced temperature rises in refrigeration systems due to a cyberattack. Several European supermarkets, including Carrefour and Coop, also reported similar issues affecting their refrigeration control systems. A broader cyberattack targeted grocery retailers across Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Luxembourg, and Sweden, leading to food waste concerns. Investigations are ongoing regarding the causes and potential future impacts on food supplies. Full Story Here 👉 https://t.co/v2kudXUkKh #IKEA #Cyberattack #CyberSecurity #Retail #Europe
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