Suspected cyberattacks turn supermarket fridges to defrost across Europe

Summary

Suspected cyberattacks on 2 November disrupted supermarket refrigeration across Europe. Euronews reports that the attacks turned fridges onto defrost settings in nine countries, including Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Ireland and Italy. The BBC reports that dozens of shops across European countries were hit, and NDTV reports that a small number of corner shops in the Netherlands also suffered disruptions. The Straits Times reports that supermarkets were targeted in a second wave of attacks that raised fridge and freezer temperatures, and that they were rushing on 3 November to upgrade their systems and protect against further hacking. Separately, Euronews reports new research finding nearly 13,000 refrigeration controls openly reachable online in 99 countries, from supermarkets to hospitals and farms, many running outdated software. Investing.com reports a new cyberattack sweeping Europe, but its item carried only a headline, so it adds no further detail.

Timeline

1. Euronews

   2 Nov 2026, 16:31 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews reports that hackers are targeting supermarket cooling systems across Europe, and that new research found nearly 13,000 refrigeration controls openly reachable online in 99 countries, many running outdated software.

2. BBC

   2 Nov 2026, 18:25 UTCSource ↗

   The BBC reports that dozens of shops across European countries have been hit by a cyber-attack affecting their fridges.

3. NDTV

   2 Nov 2026, 20:40 UTCSource ↗

   NDTV reports that the cyberattack disrupted supermarket fridges across nine European countries, and that a small number of corner shops in the Netherlands also suffered disruptions.

4. Investing.com

   3 Nov 2026, 09:18 UTCSource ↗

   Investing.com reports, in a headline only, that a new cyberattack on supermarket fridges is sweeping across Europe.

5. Euronews

   3 Nov 2026, 10:13 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews reports that suspected cyberattacks on 2 November turned fridges onto defrost setting in a total of nine countries, including Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Ireland and Italy.

6. Straits Times

   3 Nov 2026, 16:02 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that European supermarkets targeted in a second wave of cyberattacks that raised fridge and freezer temperatures were rushing on 3 November to upgrade their systems and protect against further hacking.