Hackers Strike European Supermarket Freezers Again as Pentagon Investigates Suspected Cyber Sabotage at U.S. Military Bases

A second wave of suspected cyberattacks has disrupted supermarket refrigeration systems across Europe, sending some freezer temperatures soaring to 50°C (122°F). The incidents, reported on November 2, 2026, affected stores in seven countries, destroying food supplies and raising concerns about the vulnerability of equipment responsible for preserving essential products.

Supermarkets in Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden reported refrigeration problems during the latest wave. Several retailers confirmed cyberattacks, while other incidents remained under investigation. The disruptions affected stores belonging to major chains, raising questions about whether interconnected refrigeration systems have created security vulnerabilities across Europe’s food retail industry.

In Sweden, supermarket chain ICA reported that refrigeration equipment had been compromised, with temperatures reaching dangerous levels. Some freezers reportedly heated to 50°C, leaving food unsuitable for sale. The unusual malfunctions forced employees to remove products from shelves and seek technical assistance, highlighting the immediate financial consequences of cyberattacks targeting commercial cooling equipment.

In Belgium, Carrefour, Delhaize, Spar and other retailers experienced disruptions as refrigeration specialists worked to restore affected equipment. Stephan Moelans, chief executive of refrigeration company Sabcobel, described the emergency response: «We started mobilising technicians at 1am.» He added: «We spent all night and morning disconnecting the affected installations.» Some stores reported significant food losses.

The latest incidents followed a major October cyberattack affecting as many as 700 supermarkets across France. Retailers including Carrefour, Leclerc, Intermarché and Monoprix were among those impacted. Hackers reportedly manipulated refrigeration controllers, raising temperatures and triggering extended defrost cycles that spoiled refrigerated goods and exposed weaknesses in commercial food storage infrastructure.

Investigations into the French incidents identified vulnerabilities involving internet-connected refrigeration controllers, including equipment manufactured by Danish company Danfoss. Some affected devices reportedly operated with outdated software or insufficient security protections. These systems allow remote temperature monitoring and maintenance, but unauthorized access can enable attackers to manipulate cooling operations and damage food supplies.

The European attacks have drawn attention to unexplained refrigeration failures at American military installations in August. According to Reuters, at least six military commissaries experienced unusual freezer malfunctions. The Pentagon is investigating whether hacking was involved, but authorities have not confirmed a cyberattack or established any connection between the American incidents and those in Europe.

At Fort Huachuca, Arizona, officials reported on August 26 that freezer equipment had unexpectedly entered defrost mode overnight, causing stored food to spoil. Similar malfunctions were reported at other military commissaries. The Pentagon has treated the incidents as suspicious, while American investigators have exchanged information with French authorities examining the European refrigeration attacks.

The Pentagon confirmed that a U.S. Cyber Command unit was «working in close coordination with interagency and law enforcement partners.» The Army Criminal Investigation Division also became involved in examining the American refrigeration failures. However, officials have not identified a perpetrator, confirmed malicious interference or demonstrated that the incidents resulted from a coordinated international operation.

European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen characterized the incidents as «a deliberate attempt to disrupt our food supply chain and undermine consumers’ confidence in it». Cybersecurity specialists have warned that vulnerable industrial controllers can allow intruders to interfere with essential equipment. Investigators continue examining whether the European attacks share common perpetrators or methods.

The repeated disruptions highlight the risks associated with connecting industrial equipment to remotely accessible networks. Compromised refrigeration systems can destroy food, force temporary closures and create financial losses without targeting traditional computer data. As European authorities investigate the attacks and the Pentagon examines earlier American malfunctions, protecting essential infrastructure remains an increasingly important cybersecurity challenge.