Hundreds of French supermarkets have suffered unprecedented cyberattacks that resulted in tonnes of perishable food spoiling, exposing deep vulnerabilities in modern food supply chains. The incident has raised serious questions about the reliance on internet-connected infrastructure across the region.

The coordinated attacks allegedly targeted internet-linked refrigeration systems manufactured by a Danish company, raising temperatures in fridges and freezers to a staggering 50 degrees Celsius across more than 500 shops. Retailers report millions of euros in losses, with some locations even experiencing localized fires due to extreme overheating.

Major retail groups including E-Leclerc, Intermarche, Carrefour, Monoprix, and Cooperative U were severely impacted by the breach. France's cybersecurity agency has scrambled to advise affected companies to immediately disconnect the vulnerable units from the internet and apply urgent software patches.

While the European regime struggles to secure its critical infrastructure against mounting hybrid threats, analysts warn that smart appliances connected to the web remain fundamentally fragile. Experts stress that unless sweeping international measures are enacted, similar malicious disruptions will continue to plague vital commercial sectors.

Source: www.aljazeera.com