GoKawiilSecond wave of cyberattacks disables supermarket freezers in Belgium, Sweden, and beyond
A new cyberattack has hit refrigeration systems at supermarket chains including Ahold Delhaize, Delhaize, Carrefour, and Spar in Belgium, and ICA and Coop in Sweden, following a similar incident in France weeks earlier. Hackers remotely triggered the units' defrost mode, pushing temperatures to 50°C and spoiling stock; reports indicate at least 20 units affected in Belgium alone, with Ireland, Estonia, and the Netherlands also reporting disruptions.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The repeated nature of these attacks across multiple countries suggests a shared vulnerability in internet-connected refrigeration systems that retailers have struggled to patch quickly, according to refrigeration fitter Sabcobel's CEO, who says physical hardware changes are needed for a full fix. This could point to a broader weakness in industrial IoT security across the retail sector that may require costly infrastructure upgrades, not just software patches.
- Supermarket freezers in Belgium, Sweden, Ireland, Estonia, and the Netherlands were hit by a cyberattack using the same method as a prior France incident.
- Hackers remotely activated defrost modes, raising freezer temperatures to 50°C and spoiling food stock.
- A refrigeration company executive says a full fix requires physical hardware changes, with secure internet connections offered as a temporary measure.
ThermoPro TP49 Digital Refrigerator Thermometer — With freezer systems increasingly vulnerable to remote tampering, it's a good reminder to keep independent temperature monitoring on your own home freezer. This simple digital thermometer with a high/low alarm lets you catch dangerous temperature swings before your food spoils, regardless of what's happening to the smart systems around it.
See ThermoPro TP49 Digital Refrigerator Thermometer on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: tomshardware.com — Stephen Warwick, 2026-11-02
Published there as: “Supermarket freezers across Europe struck in second crippling cyberattack”
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