France blames Iran-linked hackers for supermarket fridge attacks
Paris says the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is linked to attacks that heated cold units in hundreds of stores, and a prosecutor has opened an investigation.
Key points
- France accuses Iran's IRGC of cyber-attacks on supermarket refrigeration
- Hundreds of French stores had fridges and freezers heated in October
- Foreign minister promises measures; Iran has not yet responded
- Similar attacks hit several other European countries last week, with no confirmed link
Paris has linked Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to a series of cyber-attacks that overheated cold storage in French supermarkets. According to BBC News, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot made the accusation on Monday. Iran has not yet answered the claims.
Barrot called the operation unmatched in its size and hostility. He promised that those behind it would face sanctions agreed at European level. He added that France would take further steps, as needed and in proportion, to discourage any repeat.
Paris has also called in Iran’s envoy in the French capital to formally object. Barrot described the incident as the first large-scale sabotage attempt of this kind on French soil, and a serious threat to national interests and citizens’ safety.
What happened in France
The incident started on 11 October, when attackers took over the software controlling cooling equipment. More than 100 Coopérative U shops were affected, along with 180 Intermarché and Netto locations. In some stores, cabinets reportedly reached 50C (120F) during the night.
Carrefour, Monoprix and E.Leclerc were also among the targets. The vulnerable software came from Danish engineering firm Danfoss and lets shops control refrigeration remotely. Spoiled fresh and frozen goods are estimated to be worth millions of euros.
Investigation and attribution
On the same day, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced that an inquiry had been launched. It concerns the leader of an offensive cyber unit tied to the IRGC, plus his two deputies. Beccuau identified the group as Shahid Kaveh, saying it is connected to the guard’s electronic and cyber centre.
Shahid Kaveh is the label used for a cluster of hackers believed to work directly for the Iranian state. Two groups with Russian ties said on Wednesday they were behind the attacks, but this claim was met with doubt. French authorities have not explained how they reached their conclusion. Pinpointing the source of cyber-attacks is extremely difficult, since intruders can conceal where they operate.
Wider European impact
Earlier this month, a second wave of hacks hit more than 100 stores across Europe. Shops in Belgium and Luxembourg were affected, while fewer outlets in Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, Estonia and Finland were also hit. It is not yet known whether these events and the French attacks share a source.
Reuters has reported that a few US military bases saw refrigerators fail in August, leading to spoiled food. Citing people familiar with the matter, the news agency said this case is also being examined as deliberate hacking. No link between the incidents has been confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Who does France blame for the supermarket fridge attacks?
Paris blames Iranu0026#039;s Revolutionary Guard, known as the IRGC, for the cyber-attacks. Iran has not yet answered the claim.
Which French supermarkets were affected?
More than 100 Coopérative U stores and 180 Intermarché and Netto stores were hit. Carrefour, Monoprix and E.Leclerc were also affected, according to BBC News.
What action has France taken?
France has called in Iranu0026#039;s envoy in Paris and says it will take further necessary and proportionate measures. The Paris prosecutor has also opened an investigation into an IRGC-linked hacking unit.
Sources
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