Cyber Attacks Transform Supermarkets into Ovens Across Europe

Recent cyber attacks have wreaked havoc on supermarkets across Europe, turning cooling systems into ovens and resulting in the destruction of tons of food. These incidents, which occurred within weeks of each other, highlight the vulnerabilities in retail cybersecurity. The first major attack affected over 500 stores in France, leading to significant financial losses. As the threat spreads to other countries, experts warn that this is just the beginning, urging retailers to update their systems to prevent further incidents. Discover how these attacks are reshaping the landscape of food safety and cybersecurity in retail.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 5, 2026, 17:22 IST

Cyber Attacks on Supermarkets

In New Delhi, hackers have launched cyber assaults on supermarkets throughout Europe, causing the cooling systems and freezers to malfunction and turn into 'ovens.' Within a span of three weeks, these attacks forced retailers to discard tons of food items due to the risk of bacterial contamination. A significant amount of vegetables, fruits, dairy products, seafood, and meat had to be destroyed, highlighting that grocery stores and commercial equipment have become new battlegrounds in cyber warfare.

The initial attack occurred quietly at night when the cooling units of supermarkets were remotely switched to defrost mode. Upon arrival the next morning, employees found water pooled on the floors, with fruits, vegetables, and meats completely spoiled. The first major incident took place between October 11 and 12 in France, affecting over 500 stores, including Intermarché and Carrefour. Some cooling units reached temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius for hours, resulting in losses amounting to millions of euros in just one day. Authorities indicated that hackers exploited vulnerabilities in outdated firmware of internet-connected cooling systems to execute this attack.

The second wave of cyber attacks began at an IKEA cafeteria in Mons, Belgium, and spread to Sweden, Luxembourg, Ireland, and other nations. Fifteen Carrefour stores in Belgium were impacted by this incident. Following these events, Dr. Richard Horn, CEO of the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), warned that this is merely the beginning. He urged retailers to promptly update their firmware and called on software developers to address existing vulnerabilities.