Suspected supermarket refrigeration attacks highlight connected-device security risks

Supermarkets across Europe have experienced a suspected cyber-attack affecting fridges and freezers, the BBC reports. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre said it was working with international partners and industry to understand the incidents and was unaware of any UK impact. The report provides no evidence that household appliances are being targeted.

Separately, UK Cyber Defence researchers identified more than 800 refrigeration and building-control interfaces associated with British retailers that were accessible over the public internet. Accessibility alone does not establish that equipment can be hacked, but weak passwords or software flaws could create openings. Former NCSC chief Ciaran Martin urged manufacturers to improve device security and consumers to install updates and enable multi-factor authentication where available.

For retailers, equipment security extends beyond protecting computer systems. SentinelOne researcher Tom Hegel warned that attackers controlling refrigeration settings could use normal functions, such as defrosting, to damage stock. Earlier ransomware attacks on M&S and the Co-op in May 2025 disrupted fresh deliveries, illustrating the sector's exposure to operational disruption.