Cyberattack heats hundreds of fridges at French supermarkets; NZ expert calls it a wake-up call
A cyberattack on the French supermarket chain Intermarché targeted 150 stores (Reuters). 1News reported that hundreds of fridges were heated and millions of euros’ worth of food spoiled, and described the attack as unprecedented. Reuters said investigators are hunting for the hackers and no one has claimed responsibility. The Financial Times said the attack raised alarm over food security. RNZ quoted Anthony Grasso, a cybersecurity chief at COGENT, who was not surprised and called it a “wake-up call” for New Zealand supermarkets.
It shows that shop equipment connected to the internet can be turned against the business.
A supermarket’s food safety depends on its systems staying up, which is the point the New Zealand expert was making.
The lesson is for any business running cold chains over the internet: have a way to keep fridges running by hand.
DailyDrop New Zealand edition No. 10 · Morning · WED., OCT. 14, 2026