Ars Technica reports that a mass hack of refrigeration systems at an estimated 700 supermarkets in France caused fridges and freezers to malfunction, spoiling perishables and in some cases causing fires.
French authorities say internet-connected controllers used for remote administration were compromised. The attackers activated defrosters long enough for temperatures to reach as high as 50 °C (122 °F). Ars Technica argues that basic cybersecurity would have prevented the incident.
Source: arstechnica.com, reported 10-14. https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/10/fridge-hack-costing-millions-and-sparking-fires-stemmed-from-poor-security/