Danish supplier is the common denominator behind the warming cooling systems
A cyberattack on refrigeration systems supplied by the Danish company Danfoss has disrupted operations at various European supermarkets and businesses. European officials are investigating the incident as a deliberate attempt to interfere with the continent's food supply, while the company maintains that users failed to update vulnerable software.
Danish supplier Danfoss has confirmed that its refrigeration systems, used by numerous supermarkets and hospitality businesses, were targeted by a cyberattack on Monday. This incident mirrors a similar attack three weeks ago in France, where hackers remotely adjusted temperature controls, causing refrigeration units to warm up. Affected retailers include major chains such as Delhaize, Carrefour, Spar, and IKEA across several European countries, as well as smaller local shops in the Netherlands. Danfoss claims the vulnerabilities stem from customers failing to update to the latest software versions despite prior warnings.
European Commissioner Christophe Hansen described the attacks as a deliberate attempt to disrupt the European food supply chain, noting that while food security is not currently at risk, the incidents are causing significant food waste and operational damage. The Belgian public prosecutor's office has since launched a criminal investigation into the latest breach. This follows a separate security incident in October involving Ahold Delhaize, which preemptively shut down parts of its operations after experiencing its own cyber issue.
Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
