Paris blamed Iran's Revolutionary Guard for cyberattacks on hundreds of French supermarkets
France on Monday accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of carrying out an Oct. 11–12 cyberattack that disrupted refrigeration at hundreds of supermarkets. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called it unprecedented and said France would push for EU sanctions against those responsible. The Paris prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into the head of a Guards-linked cyber unit and two deputies.
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Paris attributed an Oct. 11–12 intrusion affecting refrigeration systems at hundreds of supermarkets to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the attack was “unprecedented in both its scale and its level of aggression” and that France would seek sanctions at the European level against those responsible.
The hackers remotely altered refrigerator and freezer temperature settings, spoiling food; some units reportedly heated enough to catch fire. The BBC reported the spoiled food was estimated to be worth millions of euros.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said a judicial investigation had been opened into the head of Shahid Kaveh, an offensive cyber unit affiliated with the Guards’ Electronic and Cyber Centre, and two deputies. Prosecutors cited Farsi-language activity and IP addresses traced to Iran.
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- BBC News — France accuses Iran of supermarket fridge hacking
- France 24 — Iran's Revolutionary Guards behind cyberattacks on supermarket fridges, says French FM
- Moneycontrol — France blames Iran's Revolutionary Guards for supermarket fridge hacks, vows EU sanctions
- ABC 7 Amarillo — France blames Iran-linked hackers for supermarket fridge attack, vows sanctions