This week, that warning moved from theory to reality when hackers reportedly targeted refrigeration systems in hundreds of French supermarkets, causing food spoilage, operational disruption, and even fires.
They now have the potential to affect food supplies, public safety, and critical infrastructure.
According to reports, cybercriminals gained access to internet-connected refrigeration management systems used by major French retailers.
Just imagine a similar attack against hospital refrigeration units storing medicines, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, airport systems, data center cooling infrastructure, or food distribution warehouses.
While this French incident involved supermarket refrigeration, it highlights a broader risk surrounding connected operational technology.