Supermarket refrigeration systems in Belgium and Sweden have been disrupted in a second cyberattack reported across Europe. The incident follows a similar attack in France that destroyed refrigerated goods just weeks earlier.
According to reports, hackers targeted supermarkets operated by Dutch retailer Ahold Delhaize, as well as ICA and Coop stores in Sweden. In Belgium, affected chains reportedly include Delhaize, Carrefour and Spar. Attackers remotely activated the freezers’ built-in defrost mode, overriding temperature controls and raising temperatures to 50 degrees Celsius.
Belga News Agency reported that the attack on Belgian refrigeration units began around midnight on Sunday. Sabcobel, a regional refrigeration installer, estimated that at least 20 units had been affected across the country. The rapid defrosting reportedly damaged or destroyed the contents.
Sabcobel CEO Stephan Moelans said the company had been working to protect its refrigeration systems, but that physical modifications were needed to address the vulnerability. He identified switching the units to a secure internet connection as the simplest temporary measure, adding that most customers had taken that step after the earlier attack in France.
In Sweden, Aftonbladet reported that refrigerators and freezers were affected in several ICA and Coop stores. Images showed employees disposing of goods in shopping carts, while Ica Kvantum said it was working to restore normal operations.
The incidents highlight the risks created by connecting essential physical equipment to the internet. They also represent the second reported attack on supermarket refrigeration systems in just a few weeks, with the same defrost-related method described in both cases.
Sources: Tom's Hardware.