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(Sharecast News) - European supermarket operators were hit by a fresh wave of suspected cyberattacks on Monday after refrigeration and freezer systems in stores across several countries were reportedly tampered with overnight, raising fears of a repeat of last month's large-scale French incident.
Retailers in Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, Sweden, Finland and Estonia reported disruptions, with temperatures in some refrigeration units rising sharply after systems were allegedly switched into defrost mode remotely.
Dutch retailer Ahold Delhaize said an IT incident affected refrigeration systems at a number of its Belgian stores, while Carrefour Belgium and Spar also reported problems. In Ireland, Musgrave Group said refrigeration equipment at 13 SuperValu stores had been impacted, leading to chilled and frozen products being removed from sale as a precaution.
Swedish supermarket groups ICA and Coop reported elevated freezer temperatures at some outlets, with one store stating that refrigeration settings had been altered to 50 Celcius overnight.
The incidents have reignited concerns following the cyberattack that struck France in October, when around 700 supermarkets saw refrigeration controls compromised. The attack forced retailers to throw away large quantities of chilled and frozen food after temperatures in freezers and refrigerators were reportedly increased to as much as 50C.
French chains including Intermarche, Carrefour, Cooperative and Monoprix were among those affected. French prosecutors described the incident as a large-scale attack on connected refrigeration systems, while retailer executives said losses across the sector were expected to run into tens of millions of euros.
The French attack also caused equipment damage and fires at some sites, prompting an investigation by France's cybersecurity agency ANSSI. Authorities identified numerous compromises involving internet-connected refrigeration controllers supplied by manufacturers including Danfoss and Copeland.
No group has publicly claimed responsibility for either the French attack or the latest incidents. However, the new disruptions have heightened concerns around the vulnerability of operational technology systems used throughout the food retail supply chain.
The attacks have renewed scrutiny of remote monitoring technology used in commercial refrigeration, with cybersecurity specialists warning that outdated operational technology remains an attractive target for threat actors seeking to maximise economic disruption.
The French incident, which occurred in October, is regarded as one of the most significant cyberattacks yet to target food retail infrastructure. Hackers reportedly forced refrigeration systems into extended defrost cycles, causing widespread food spoilage, equipment failures and substantial financial losses, while exposing the growing cyber risks facing Europe's food distribution network.
Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com