Hackers hijack grocery store freezer defrost controls, spoiling food across Europe

Summary

Attackers hijacked the built-in defrost controls of grocery store freezers, turning them into heaters and spoiling millions of euros' worth of food across Europe, according to Scientific American, which also reports that U.S. military bases may have been hit too. CBS News reports that large-scale hacks targeting grocery stores in Europe and France's blood banks are renewing concerns about the vulnerabilities of everyday "smart" devices.

Timeline

1. Scientific American

   3 Nov 2026, 19:45 UTCSource ↗

   Scientific American reports that hackers turned grocery store freezers into heaters by hijacking their built-in defrost controls, spoiling millions of euros' worth of food across Europe, and that U.S. military bases may have been hit too.

2. CBS News

   4 Nov 2026, 16:09 UTCSource ↗

   CBS News reports that large-scale hacks targeting grocery stores in Europe and France's blood banks are renewing concerns about the vulnerabilities of everyday "smart" devices.