Investigations reveal details of the hacking incident affecting 700 stores in France

French authorities are continuing to investigate a cyberattack targeting the cooling systems of up to 700 retail stores in France, causing large quantities of food to be spoiled. The attackers exploited security vulnerabilities to remotely control temperatures. Authorities have not yet identified the perpetrators or their motives.

French authorities are continuing to investigate a cyberattack targeting the cooling systems of up to 700 retail stores in France, causing large quantities of food to be spoiled. The attack occurred on October 12, 2026, when attackers exploited security vulnerabilities in the systems used to control refrigeration units, allowing them to remotely change temperatures and disable alarm mechanisms. The attack affected stores belonging to major French chains such as Intermarché, Coopérative U, Carrefour, Leclerc, and Monoprix, as well as independent stores. The Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the incident, but authorities have not yet identified the perpetrators or their motives, and no ransom demands or claims of responsibility have been recorded. Ciaran Martin, the founder and former CEO of the UK government's National Cyber Security Centre, described the attack as one of the strangest hacks in recent years.