Cyberattack Sparks Fire and Millions in Losses at French Supermarkets

Hackers trigger 50C fridge temperatures, causing fires and millions in losses across French supermarkets. Cybersecurity crisis escalates.

Editorial Desk

October 12, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Paris, France — A cyberattack targeting refrigeration systems at hundreds of French supermarkets forced temperatures to rise to 50 degrees Celsius, leading to widespread food spoilage and multiple fires overnight.

The incident, which affected stores nationwide, involved hackers remotely altering settings on cooling equipment, causing fridges and freezers to heat instead of maintain low temperatures. The breach is believed to have impacted systems supplied by Danish manufacturer Danfoss, with significant financial damage reported across the retail sector.

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French authorities are investigating the attack, which also disrupted IT operations in parts of the Netherlands and Belgium. While no group has claimed responsibility, experts warn of growing risks from targeted cyber threats against critical infrastructure. Supermarket chains are now working to restore normal operations and assess the full extent of the damage.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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Editorial Desk

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