Coordinated cyberattacks hit supermarket refrigeration systems across at least 11 European countries on November 2, 2026, driving freezer temperatures up to 50°C and causing widespread food spoilage. Hackers targeted internet-exposed legacy control systems from manufacturers like Danfoss and Copeland using factory-default passwords. EU officials warned the incidents represent a deliberate effort to disrupt the food supply chain, while cybersecurity researchers observed infrastructure links to Russian-aligned actors.
Incidents across European food retailers
- ▪Cyberattacks targeted supermarket refrigeration systems across multiple European countries
- ▪Retailers in Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, and Sweden reported technical problems or hacking attempts on their refrigeration units on November 2, 2026
Warnings on food supply chain security
- ▪European Union officials warned that the coordinated fridge cyberattacks across Europe on November 2, 2026 represent a deliberate attempt to disrupt essential services and the regional food supply chain
- ▪The British Association of Independent Meat Suppliers called the November 2, 2026 fridge cyberattacks across Europe a warning to all businesses in the food supply chain that their facilities are potential cyber targets
- ▪EU Food and Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen stated that food security requires greater attention across all levels
Vulnerabilities and equipment manufacturer responses
- ▪Danish manufacturer Danfoss stated that most refrigeration equipment affected by the November 2026 cyberattacks were legacy products that no longer receive software or security updates
- ▪Supermarket chain Coop in Sweden restored fridges affected by the November 2026 cyberattack and stated that stores connected to older 4G networks were more exposed than those upgraded to 5G modems
Government and regulatory responses
- ▪The European Union cybersecurity agency ENISA and European Commission officials organized joint meetings with national authorities
- ▪Italian government ministers held security talks with intelligence chiefs and the National Cyber Security Agency
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