Hackers hijacked grocery store freezers, accessed France’s food supply and caused costly spoilage

Connected devices raise concerns

The incidents have renewed broader concerns about vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and internet-connected consumer technology. Experts say risks extend beyond systems such as electricity grids, healthcare databases and grocery chains’ refrigeration to everyday appliances that connect to the internet.

Devices marketed as time-saving conveniences can become potential entry points for hackers. One expert said common weaknesses include default or reused passwords, outdated software and accounts with weak security.

Household risks can spread

Niri said unauthorized access to cameras or microphones could reveal when people are home and what they are doing. A compromised device may also provide access to others on the same network, potentially exposing personal or financial information or enabling physical interference with appliances and security systems.

Experts urge informed choices

In 2016, Mirai malware infected hundreds of thousands of internet-connected devices, including household routers and security cameras, turning them into a network used to launch large-scale cyberattacks. Loukas warned that AI can make attacks easier to carry out, saying one person may now be able to do work that once required a skilled team for weeks. Niri advised awareness rather than fear and urged consumers to consider whether a device needs an internet connection and what could happen if it were hacked.