Europe Fridge Cyberattack 2026: Supermarkets Hit Across Seven Countries

Supermarkets across at least seven European countries were hit by a suspected cyberattack on 2 November 2026, with fridge and freezer temperatures remotely raised to as high as 50°C (122°F), spoiling food and forcing some stores to discard stock.

The European Union has warned that the incident may be a deliberate attempt to disrupt Europe’s food supply chain, following a similar attack in France last month that affected around 700 supermarkets.

Which countries were affected?

Supermarkets in the following countries reported refrigeration problems linked to the cyberattack:

• Belgium

• Estonia

• Finland

• Ireland

• Italy

• Luxembourg

• Netherlands

• Portugal

• Swedenafp

More than 100 stores were affected in this latest wave, according to Reuters.

What happened?

Attackers appear to have remotely manipulated supermarket refrigeration systems, including defrost mechanisms, causing fridges and freezers to overheat dramatically.tomshardware

Key facts:

• Fridge and freezer temperatures raised to as high as 50°C (122°F).bbc

• More than 100 stores affected across multiple countries.

• Food worth millions of euros spoiled or destroyed.

• Some stores forced to dispose of ruined food.

• A Swedish ICA store in Sjöbo confirmed its fridges and freezers had been hacked and set to 50°C.

How did hackers do it?

The suspected attack method involved remotely accessing and manipulating supermarket refrigeration control systems, particularly defrost mechanisms.tomshardware

Suspected attack method

• Attackers gained access to IoT-connected refrigeration controllers

• Defrost cycles were triggered repeatedly or overridden

• Compressors were disabled or settings changed

• Temperatures rose from safe storage levels to 50°C

• Perishable food spoiled within hours

This type of attack exploits the growing connectivity of commercial refrigeration systems, which are increasingly managed remotely for energy efficiency and maintenance.

Connection to France attack

This incident follows a similar cyberattack in France in October 2026, which affected around 700 supermarkets and caused fires as well as food losses estimated in the tens of millions of euros.

The Pentagon is also investigating whether rogue freezer incidents at US military bases in August are connected to the same campaign.

Timeline of attacks

EU response

The European Union has warned that the attacks may represent a deliberate attempt to disrupt Europe’s food supply chain.

EU officials are treating the incident as a potential critical-infrastructure attack, given its scale, coordination, and impact on food safety and availability.

Why IoT security matters

This attack highlights the growing risk of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in critical infrastructure.

What is IoT risk?

IoT devices—smart fridges, sensors, controllers, cameras, and industrial equipment—are often connected to the internet for remote monitoring and management. If poorly secured, they become entry points for attackers.

Lessons for businesses

• Segment IoT devices from core business networks

• Change default passwords

• Apply firmware updates regularly

• Use multi-factor authentication for remote access

• Monitor unusual device behaviour

• Have incident response plans

• Audit third-party vendors and suppliers

Impact on food supply and businesses

The attacks have caused:

• Large-scale food spoilage and waste

• Financial losses in the millions of euros

• Store closures and empty shelves

• Fire risks from overheating equipment

• Supply chain disruption across borderseunews

Supermarkets are now reviewing their refrigeration security, and technology suppliers such as Kitman Coldtech are working with affected retailers to restore safe operations.

What happens next?

• Investigations are ongoing across multiple countries

• EU may introduce new IoT security regulations

• Retailers are expected to upgrade refrigeration security

• The identity and motive of attackers remain unclear

• More countries or stores may report similar incidents

This is a developing story. Global IT Services will update this article as new verified information emerges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries were hit by the Europe fridge cyberattack?

Supermarkets in Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden reported problems linked to the cyberattack.

How high did fridge temperatures rise?

Fridge and freezer temperatures were raised to as high as 50°C (122°F) in some affected stores.

How many stores were affected?

More than 100 stores were affected in the latest wave, according to Reuters.

Was this connected to the France attack?

Yes. This incident follows a similar cyberattack in France in October 2026 that affected around 700 supermarkets.

Who is behind the attacks?

The identity and motive of the attackers remain unclear. The EU has warned the attacks may be a deliberate attempt to disrupt the food supply chain.

Can smart fridges at home be hacked?

Yes. Any internet-connected device with weak security can potentially be hacked. Consumers should change default passwords, update firmware, and segment IoT devices from main networks.

Sources

• BBC — Shop freezers in seven European countries hit by cyber-attack

• AFP — Fridge cyberattack hits supermarkets across Europe

• Reuters — European retailers hit by supermarket fridge hack

• POLITICO — Europe’s supermarkets hit by new wave of cyberattacks

• Sky News — Hackers target refrigerators in Ireland and European countries

• Eunews — Cyber-attacks on EU supermarkets

• Tom’s Hardware — Supermarket freezers across Europe struck in second cyberattack

• NPR/Uprising — A new cold war: hackers target fridges across the globe

• Forbes — New wave of refrigerator cyberattacks roils European supermarkets