Investigation Underway Into France Supermarket Cyberattack

On October 12, 2026, hackers launched a sophisticated cyberattack on supermarket refrigeration systems across France, causing temperatures to soar to 50°C (122°F) and spoiling millions of euros worth of food. The attack affected more than 700 stores, including major chains like Intermarché, Coopérative U, E.Leclerc, Carrefour, and Monoprix. Hackers reprogrammed cooling regulators to continuously defrost units overnight, leading to significant inventory losses and some fires. Dominique Schelcher, head of Coopérative U, called it an "extremely serious and unprecedented" incident. The Paris prosecutor's office initiated a criminal investigation into the cyberattack, which France is also investigating in coordination with European counterparts due to potential broader risks.