Fridges overheat across six countries

Refrigerators in supermarkets across Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands and Estonia suddenly spiked to up to fifty degrees Celsius on Monday.

Pattern mirrors French attacks

The incidents repeat cyberattacks that hit French supermarkets in mid-October, when attackers remotely manipulated fridges' defrosting mechanisms to make them overheat.

Danfoss fridges targeted in France

French supermarkets were hit in mid-October when attackers targeted refrigerators by Danfoss, a Danish manufacturer of store fridges. The attacks triggered responses from France's prime minister and cybersecurity agency.

Researchers blame poor security

Cybersecurity researchers Ken Munro and Inti De Ceukelaire say supermarkets should have disconnected fridges from the internet and applied patches after France. De Ceukelaire said some stores simply did not get patched.

“I don't accept any other excuse … particularly in light of the earlier [attacks in France].”

Multiple chains affected

Belgian chain Delhaize reported problems at multiple stores. Colruyt said around five Spar stores were hit. Carrefour confirmed fifteen of its seven hundred stores were affected. Swedish chains ICA and Coop also reported incidents.

Researchers split on who is behind it

Inti De Ceukelaire suggests repeated attacks indicate a hostile nation may be responsible. Ken Munro believes a copycat is behind Monday's attacks and warned there will be more.

“This won't be the end of it. There will be more.”