Cyberattacks on supermarket fridges reach at least 11 European countries, officials say

Note

Hackers raised the temperatures of supermarket refrigeration systems in Germany, Romania and the UK during Monday's attacks, officials said on Tuesday, Nov 3, bringing the number of European countries hit to at least 11, Al Jazeera reports. The EU called the attacks not isolated and promised a collective response. The motive is unknown and no one has claimed responsibility.

Fridges and freezers at dozens of supermarkets in six European countries were hit overnight into Monday, Nov 2, in a suspected cyberattack, the BBC reports. Only some stores in each chain were affected: about 40 Delhaize stores in Belgium and Luxembourg, 15 Carrefour Belgium stores and five Spar stores, along with IKEA Mons and De Laet & Van Haver butchers, according to the companies, the BBC and RTBF.

In Sweden, several ICA stores and seven of Coop's 800 stores were hit. In Ireland, 13 SuperValu stores were affected, owner Musgrave told The Irish Times. Shops in the Netherlands and Estonia were also hit, the BBC reports.

Sabcobel, which runs Delhaize's refrigeration, said the units' evaporators were remotely switched into defrost mode, the same method believed used in last month's attack on French supermarkets. Freezer readings rose as high as 50C to 55C (122F to 131F), the BBC and Anadolu report, and food was thrown out. Local media put losses in the millions of euros, including €100,000 at a Delhaize store in Hoeilaart. Sabcobel says the units need physical fixes. It is unclear who is behind the attack. Belgium's and Sweden's national cyber agencies say they are monitoring.