Hackers Set Supermarket Freezers to Defrost Across Europe Overnight, Spoiling Food

Refrigerators, freezers and chilled cabinets at dozens of supermarkets across Europe were remotely set into defrost mode during the overnight hours of Nov. 1-2, causing temperatures to rise as high as 122 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the BBC, as reported by Chain Store Age.

The BBC named Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Ireland, Finland, the Netherlands and Estonia among the countries affected. Gizmodo later noted reports from other countries, including Germany, Portugal, Romania and Italy.

Ahold Delhaize was the most severely affected retailer, with roughly 40 stores in Belgium and Luxembourg hit by the cyberattack, Chain Store Age reported. Carrefour said 15 of its Belgian stores were affected and that all of its stores stayed open. Losses in damaged fresh, frozen and dairy products reportedly exceeded $145,000 at some individual stores.

A repeat of the October attack in France

The breach follows the October attack on French supermarkets, in which roughly 350 supermarkets had freezers and refrigerators heat up, and in some cases catch fire, leading to millions of dollars in losses from defrosted and spoiled food, Chain Store Age reported.

The latest attack also reportedly targeted Danfoss cooling systems used by at least 17 butcher shops and local grocers in the Netherlands. Danfoss said after the October incident that many of the affected units were at the end of their life or running outdated firmware, and that affected grocers had been warned to migrate and update outdated systems, according to NBC News reporting cited by Chain Store Age.

No group has publicly claimed responsibility or asked for any type of ransom in connection with the attacks, and the latest incidents are being investigated by European and U.S. authorities, Chain Store Age reported.

Reporting based on coverage by Chain Store Age and Gizmodo.