🚨Hackers Target French Grocery Fridges, Spoiling Food and Causing Fires
Physical Attacks on OT Systems Are on the Rise
TL;DR
Cybercriminals hacked thousands of refrigeration systems in French grocery stores, spiking temperatures and causing fires. This is part of a growing trend of targeting physical systems for ransomware attacks, with 119 ransomware groups impacting over 3,300 industrial orgs in 2025.
Cybercriminals recently hacked thousands of remote-controlled refrigeration systems across hundreds of French grocery stores, spiking temperatures, spoiling food, and causing fires. This is part of a growing trend of ransomware attacks targeting physical systems like building automation systems (BAS) and operational technology (OT), which often have fewer security controls than IT systems. In 2025, Dragos tracked 119 ransomware groups impacting over 3,300 industrial organizations, a 49.5% increase from 2022. These attacks leverage insecure protocols and AI to find vulnerabilities, making it easier for attackers to disrupt operations and pressure victims into paying ransoms.
Key Points
Cybercriminals hacked thousands of refrigeration systems in French grocery stores, spiking temperatures and causing fires.
73% of organizations with BAS have been used in ransomware attacks, and 91% of BAS communicate over insecure protocols.
In 2025, Dragos tracked 119 ransomware groups impacting over 3,300 industrial organizations, a 49.5% increase from 2022.
AI is making it easier for attackers to find bugs and understand obscure protocols and proprietary hardware and software.
Fewer than 10% of OT networks worldwide currently have sufficient network monitoring in place.
Why It Matters
If you're managing a building automation system (BAS) or any operational technology (OT), this trend is a big deal. In 2025, 119 ransomware groups impacted over 3,300 industrial organizations, a 49.5% increase from 2022. These attacks leverage insecure protocols and AI to find vulnerabilities, making it easier for attackers to disrupt operations and pressure victims into paying ransoms.
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