French investigators are searching for hackers who took control of refrigeration systems at hundreds of supermarkets, causing meat and frozen food to spoil. No group has claimed responsibility for the cyberattack.
At least 350 supermarkets, including Carrefour, Monoprix, Intermarché and Coopérative U, were affected. The attack changed fridge temperatures, forcing staff at some Paris stores to throw away spoiled food.
Investigators are puzzled by the lack of a ransom demand or a public claim of responsibility. Cybercriminals often seek money, while politically motivated hackers may take credit for their actions.
The affected fridges used software made by Danish company Danfoss. The company said many systems were outdated and no longer received security updates.
Cybersecurity experts said known software weaknesses and internet-connected systems may have made the attack easier. They also warned that older versions of the software remain in use.
A scan of internet-connected devices found at least 4,500 Danfoss interfaces that could still be viewed online. Experts said many publicly accessible systems appeared to be running outdated software, leaving them at risk of attack.
