Technology1 min read

France blames Iran for supermarket refrigerator cyberattacks, weighs sanctions

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The overnight breach on Oct. 11 and Oct. 12 hit roughly 700 supermarkets nationwide, including locations run by Carrefour, Intermarché, and Monoprix. Hackers gained remote access to Danfoss and Dixell refrigeration controllers through web interfaces, forcing unlimited defrost cycles while disabling crucial safety alerts. Temperatures subsequently surged by up to 50 degrees Celsius, destroying food products and resulting in tens of millions of dollars in damages. The Paris Prosecutor's Office discovered Farsi language artifacts alongside Iranian IP addresses and is pursuing international arrest warrants for the sabotage.

Key points

  • France is actively evaluating European travel bans and asset freezes against the Iranian…: France is actively evaluating European travel bans and asset freezes against the Iranian entities responsible for the cyber incident.
  • Supermarket cooling networks in six other European nations suffered similar cyber disrupt…: Supermarket cooling networks in six other European nations suffered similar cyber disruptions throughout the month of November.
  • Hostile cyber operators expanded their campaign by targeting French blood bank cold stora…: Hostile cyber operators expanded their campaign by targeting French blood bank cold storage units to compromise sensitive medical supplies.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

France is "not ruling anything out" in its response to October's mass cyberattacks on supermarket refrigerators that the country has blamed on Iran, the country's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Tuesday.

The French government summoned Iran's ambassador Tuesday morning after Paris said Monday that the findings of an investigation laid the blame for the hacks on Shahid Kaveh, an affiliate of the cyber unit of the powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Barrot told radio station Franceinfo that the French government could respond with bans on entering European territory and the freezing of assets of anyone held responsible, as it looks to deter any further malicious acts conducted against the region.

Probe points to Iranian hackers

Remote hacks on around 700 grocery stores over the night of Oct. 11 to Oct. 12 caused refrigerators and freezers to heat up by as much as 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit).

The soaring temperatures spoiled food and sparked fires, generating tens of millions of dollars in damage. Major French retailers, including Intermarché, E. Leclerc, Carrefour, Monoprix and Coopérative U were targeted.

The Paris…

Technology