Freezers hacked into "heaters" again: A series of European supermarkets reeling from IoT security vulnerabilities
In early November 2026, a series of large supermarkets across Europe simultaneously reported unauthorized tampering with their food storage equipment, pushing temperatures up to 70 degrees Celsius. This was no ordinary technical glitch but the consequence of targeted freezer hacks. The incident not only caused severe damage to merchandise but also directly exposed critical Internet of Things (IoT) security vulnerabilities that are being ignored in retail operational processes.
From nearly 5,000 exposed devices on the network to the "freezer hack" disaster in Europe
The focal point of this chain of incidents was Belgium, where approximately 40 supermarkets belonging to the renowned Delhaize and Carrefour chains suffered unexpected cyberattacks. Threat actors remotely infiltrated and adjusted the storage freezer temperatures to 70 degrees Celsius. This freezer hack completely ruined an estimated 100,000 euros worth of food, forcing the supermarkets to destroy everything.
Notably, this risk had been previously warned. A few weeks ago, nearly 5,000 Danfoss refrigeration systems were exposed directly on the Internet without any security barriers. This exposure served as the ideal "gateway" for malicious actors to exploit.
Beyond Belgium, the wave of cyberattacks swept across several other European countries. In Sweden, 7 out of a total of 800 stores in the Coop chain reported system breaches. In Ireland, 13 SuperValu supermarkets also became targets. In Estonia, hackers intervened to push the Selver supermarket's freezer temperatures up to 50 degrees Celsius, but the monitoring system promptly detected and blocked it within minutes. To prevent the risk of deeper infiltration, the Delhaize chain in Luxembourg even had to suspend its online ordering system.
Why do hackers like to hack supermarket refrigeration systems?
The reason refrigeration devices have become attack targets stems from the prevalence of IoT (Internet-connected devices) technology. Modern commercial freezers are all networked so that staff can easily monitor and adjust temperatures remotely. However, this convenience brings significant risk as supermarkets often leave security wide open, lacking encryption layers or protective firewalls.
The motive behind these attacks goes beyond spontaneous vandalism. Looking back at October 2026, an incident with a similar scenario shook France when nearly 700 supermarkets were compromised by hackers who activated the defrost mode overnight, causing millions of euros in damage. This chain of events indicates that the hacking of refrigeration systems is becoming a systematic, well-calculated attack vector aimed at inflicting financial damage and disrupting the supply chains of enterprises.
Proactively protect businesses with solutions from IPSIP Vietnam
From the reality of hacked supermarket fridges in Europe, it is evident that any networked smart device – from chillers and security cameras to lighting systems – can become a fatal vulnerability for a business if lacking protective measures.
To prevent similar scenarios, organizations need to establish a proactive cybersecurity strategy. The Vulnerability Assessment and Security Operation Center services of IPSIP Vietnam are designed to solve this problem. By comprehensively scanning network infrastructure and connected devices, IPSIP's solutions help businesses detect unlocked "doors" early (such as the Danfoss device leak), thereby patching flaws in a timely manner and building a solid defense layer before the infrastructure system is breached or causes irreversible consequences.
Cybersecurity is now not only about protecting digital data but is also a vital factor for maintaining safety in physical operations. Supermarkets and retail businesses need to urgently review their IoT security systems to avoid becoming the next victims of large-scale attack campaigns.
References: CNBC – Supermarket fridges hit with cyberattacks across Europe
