Hackers attack French supermarkets – level 2
19-10-2026 15:00
Big supermarkets in France suffered a strange cyberattack when hackers took control of their refrigerators and freezers.
The hackers remotely raised the temperatures inside the appliances, which ruined huge amounts of fresh food like meat and dairy, and even started small fires in some stores.
Big retail companies were badly hit, and lost millions of euros. Experts say the hackers broke into old software, which stores use to manage their fridges from afar. Because the software was outdated, the system was not secure. Store managers turned off remote controls to keep their shops safe.
French authorities are investigating the attack to find out who is responsible. They also worry that more similar attack may come in the future.
Difficult words: remotely (from a distance), outdated (old, not modern), investigate (to examine a crime or problem to discover the truth).
You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.
What consequences did remotely raising the temperatures in the appliances have for the stores?
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