What happened in the cyberattack on French supermarket refrigerators?

On October 11 and 12, hackers accessed refrigeration systems at hundreds of French commercial sites and changed their settings. Fridges and freezers warmed up, spoiling food and causing some units to catch fire.

Why does France blame Iran's Revolutionary Guard for the supermarket cyberattacks?

French officials say the attack’s digital infrastructure and intrusion patterns link it to Shahid Kaveh, a cyber unit affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. They also reported finding traces of Farsi in the attack infrastructure.

How does France plan to respond to the cyberattack on supermarket refrigerators?

France summoned Iran’s ambassador and said it would seek European-level sanctions against those responsible. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot also said Paris had not ruled out proportionate measures, including cyber responses.

France summons Iran envoy over cyberattack on supermarket refrigerators, warns of retaliation

French officials on Monday accused Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of orchestrating the attacks,

Updated on: Nov 10, 2026, 16:14:44 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

France summoned Iran's ambassador on Tuesday over an alleged cyberattack that disrupted refrigeration systems in hundreds of supermarkets across the country, with foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot warning that Paris could retaliate with cyber measures of its own.

The ⁠supermarket hacks, which struck hundreds of stores in early October, were among the most disruptive cyberattacks since the Iran war began in February, (Representational image/AFP)

French officials on Monday accused Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of orchestrating the attacks, which affected commercial refrigeration systems across France in October, according to Reuters.

The French foreign ministry reportedly said the Iranian ambassador, whose summoning had been announced a day earlier by Barrot, was called in on Tuesday morning.

Speaking to France Info television, as cited by Reuters, Barrot called the incident an "attack of unprecedented scale and aggression" on French soil and said Paris would push for EU sanctions against Tehran in response.

He said there could be further action that would not be disclosed.

"We will take whatever measures are necessary, including some that we will not discuss publicly, if we judge them proportionate and necessary to deter any new attacks and punish those responsible for this unacceptable aggression," Barrot said and added France's cyberdefence doctrine provided authorities with a range of options.

According to AFP, the cyberattacks targeted 700 sites, with hackers gaining control of cooling systems through web interfaces to trigger "abnormal, indefinite defrost cycles". They also disabled sensor alerts designed to warn operators when temperatures crossed a specified threshold.

Deep Dive

Ask HT

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries along with latest US midterm elections update. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.