--- title: "French Supermarkets Hit by Cyberattack" url: https://newscentral.site/french-supermarkets-hit-by-cyberattack/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "World" published: 2026-10-14T14:35:48.000Z updated: 2026-10-14T17:29:09.505Z id: 7c7f93f1-602f-4490-9d9f-b7b8f07b869e source: "ABC News International https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/french-cybersecurity-authority-warns-attack-ongoing-stores-scramble-137256642" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/french-supermarkets-hit-by-cyberattack/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # French Supermarkets Hit by Cyberattack A widespread cyberattack has hit supermarkets in France and the Netherlands, causing chaos and concern about food supply chains. The French cybersecurity authority has issued a warning that the attack may still be ongoing, urging stores to take immediate action to secure their refrigeration systems. The agency advised retailers to reconnect refrigerators to the internet only through a secure VPN connection or protected network, install firmware updates and change passwords. This precautionary measure aims to prevent further disruptions. The cyberattack, which occurred on Monday morning, allowed attackers to remotely control refrigeration systems in hundreds of supermarkets and independent stores across France. Temperatures soared to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) for about six hours, resulting in the discarding of fresh and frozen goods. The Intermarché supermarket chain reported significant losses, with estimates suggesting tens of millions of euros were lost in a single day. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, a major supermarket chain was restarting its systems after shutting them down as a precautionary measure amid what parent company Ahold Delhaize described as a "cybersecurity incident". The incident halted home deliveries and disrupted some supplies to its extensive network of stores across the country. The cyberattack on French supermarket chain Carrefour has exposed vulnerabilities in older refrigeration management systems and disrupted food supply chains across the country. Investigations into the incident are being led by authorities in France and its neighboring countries, with officials working to determine the scope and impact of the attack. In a related development, the Dutch National cybersecurity Center reported several cyber incidents affecting Europe's food sector, but noted that there was no clear evidence linking these incidents to the Carrefour attack. Europol, the European Union's police agency, has confirmed it is in contact with authorities investigating the incident, although details are being withheld due to the ongoing nature of the investigation. No perpetrators have been identified or claims of responsibility made public. Experts say those responsible for the attack could range from sophisticated state-sponsored actors to individual hackers seeking to exploit the chaos caused by recent protests in France. François Deruty, a former operations director at the French Cybersecurity Agency, notes that determining the motivations behind such an attack can be challenging. The timing of the cyberattack on French food distribution company Sodexo's systems has raised eyebrows among experts, who note that it coincides with a period of heightened political tension in France. The attack appears to have had a significant impact on the country's food supply chain, with many supermarkets struggling to restock shelves. For Antony Bohne, director of Intermarché La Villette in Paris, the consequences were severe - his frozen food stock was ruined due to malfunctioning freezers that spiked to almost 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, supermarkets are facing similar challenges. At an Albert Heijn store on the outskirts of The Hague, trays of fresh tomatoes lay empty on Wednesday as staff worked to restock shelves. The reliance of Dutch supermarkets on "just in time deliveries has left them vulnerable to disruptions like this cyberattack, according to Pieter Zwaan, a senior researcher at the Clingendael Institute. Without access to IT and electricity, it is impossible for supermarkets to order and deliver products as frequently as they need to keep shelves filled. The French government's recommendation for households to maintain a three-day stockpile of food has been deemed insufficient in light of the ongoing cyberattack on supermarkets' supply chains. To mitigate potential disruptions, experts suggest building up reserves that would keep food available for at least eight days. According to French Finance Minister Roland Lescure, approximately 7% of the country's 10,000 supermarkets have been affected by the attack, with no immediate threat to France's overall food supplies. However, Lescure acknowledged the severity of the situation, describing it as a wake-up call for everyone" that highlights vulnerabilities in the nation's food security. The French cybersecurity agency has pinpointed software vulnerabilities exploited in the hack as a major contributor to the attack's success. These vulnerabilities are often the result of outdated or unpatched equipment, which can be easily compromised by hackers. Deruty emphasized that awareness of cyber risks has grown significantly over recent years but still fails to reach all sectors and individuals. He attributed this gap in understanding to a lack of knowledge about cybersecurity among some business owners. The French cybersecurity agency has identified several companies whose products have been targeted, including Danfoss, a Danish manufacturer of refrigeration system remote control modules, as well as Copeland, an American company that also produces such modules. Several companies that use vulnerable products have been targeted by hackers in a potential ongoing cyberattack. According to Claroty's August report, vulnerabilities were identified in Danfoss' AK-SM 800A and Copeland's XWeb Pro platforms, which are used for managing refrigeration infrastructure. These platforms are particularly concerning as they make numerous controllers directly accessible from the public internet, leaving them vulnerable to cyberattacks. Fortunately, both Danfoss and Copeland have since fixed these vulnerabilities. However, some companies may still be at risk if they haven't updated their systems yet. One company, Copeland, has confirmed that a vulnerability was found in an older generation of controllers, which is no longer supported. They are working with affected customers to mitigate the issue and prevent any potential harm. --- Source: [ABC News International](https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/french-cybersecurity-authority-warns-attack-ongoing-stores-scramble-137256642) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/french-supermarkets-hit-by-cyberattack/