The attacks hit supermarkets in at least 12 European countries during October and November, and France suffered the most damage on October 11‑12. The hacks raised fridge temperatures, forcing many stores to discard large amounts of perishable food.

Juhan Lepassaar, executive director of the EU’s cybersecurity agency ENISA, warned that after fridges, the next targets could be routers and other home appliances. He said the same pattern could repeat with any connected device.

Lepassaar urged manufacturers to embed security “by design” and stressed that all incidents can be avoided if enough investment is made. He emphasized that cybersecurity is not cheap, but it is essential.

He painted a worst‑case scenario in which attacks on household gadgets could cripple essential public services. According to Lepassaar, police, fire brigades, hospitals and transport could all be disrupted.

The message is clear: protecting the software inside everyday appliances is not optional. Strong, built‑in security can keep both your kitchen and the wider community safe from future cyber threats.