France blames Iran for cyberattacks on supermarket fridges

France has accused Iran of being behind cyberattacks targeting refrigeration units in supermarkets across the country last month.

It linked the attacks, which raised the temperatures of supermarket fridges and freezers in the country, to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

French authorities have also launched an investigation into Shahid Kaveh, a cyber unit affiliated with the IRGC.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the attack was “unprecedented in both its scale and its level of aggression,” according to Al Jazeera. 

Mr Barrot also said those responsible would be hit with sanctions at a European level.

A cyberattack on French supermarket freezers occurred overnight last month.

Between 11 and 12 October, retailers discovered that freezers and cold rooms had overheated.

Millions of euros’ worth of food was spoiled. In some cases, the raised temperatures sparked fires or melted equipment.

French supermarket groups such as E-Leclerc, Intermarché, Carrefour, Monoprix and Coopérative U were all hit.

Around 300 of Intermarché’s stores and its Netto brand were affected.

Coopérative U said more than 100 of its supermarkets were targeted, while Carrefour identified about 80 affected supermarkets.

Monoprix also reported that about 5 per cent of its roughly 490 stores were hit.

Al Jazeera reported that French Investigators said attackers used Farsi and IP addresses linked to devices in Iran to carry out the attack.

The attacks gained internet access to the refrigeration systems and remotely raised temperatures to 122 degrees Fahrenheit overnight.

Supermarkets in several other European countries also reported similar refrigeration problems last week, but it remains unclear if these incidents are linked, according to the BBC.

These include Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Sweden.

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Mr Barrot said France has requested international arrest warrants for the leaders of the Shahid Kaveh group.

“This is the first large-scale cyberattack carried out for sabotage purposes on French soil. It represents a major attack on the nation’s interests and on the security of the French people. That is why it will not go unanswered.

“We will also take any other measures that are proportionate and necessary, whether public or private, to respond to this attack and deter anyone who might seek to repeat it,” he said.

Iran has yet to respond to the allegations as of the time of this report.