Who is hacking Europe’s supermarket fridges and freezers, and why?
Published . Updated .
After a second apparent cyber-attack in as many weeks, we examine possible culprits and their motives
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- VGK Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF
Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF holds stocks listed in Europe, which this story is about (“europe”).
- ASML ASML Holding N.V+1.0% 18d
ASML Holding N.V (special industry machinery) is one of the largest Europe-based companies traded in the US, so news about Europe (“europe”) reaches its shares.
- HSBC HSBC Holdings-9.3% 18d
HSBC Holdings (savings institution, federally chartered) is one of the largest Europe-based companies traded in the US, so news about Europe (“europe”) reaches its shares.
- SHEL Shell+0.1% 13d
Shell (crude petroleum and natural gas) is one of the largest Europe-based companies traded in the US, so news about Europe (“europe”) reaches its shares.
- NVS Novartis AG+1.3% 17d
Novartis AG (pharmaceutical preparations) is one of the largest Europe-based companies traded in the US, so news about Europe (“europe”) reaches its shares.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VGKNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ASMLNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| HSBCNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SHELNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| NVSNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
Market Call
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After a second apparent cyber-attack in as many weeks, we examine possible culprits and their motives Shop fridges and freezers across Europe hit by fresh suspected cyber-attack Supermarket fridges and freezers in seven European countries…
Source: The Guardian
Congressional trades in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Asml Holding (ASML) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Oct 2026. That is 10 days before publication. Filed 28 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul bought Asml Holding (ASML) (held by a spouse), worth $50,001 - $100,000 on 7 Aug 2026. That is 87 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Novartis Ag (NVS), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 27 Aug 2026. That is 67 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Walmart (WMT) (held by a spouse), worth $50,001 - $100,000 on 2 Oct 2026. That is 31 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Jonathan Jackson sold Walmart (WMT) (jointly held), worth $50,001 - $100,000 on 28 Sep 2026. That is 35 days before publication. Filed 19 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Walmart (WMT) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 25 Sep 2026. That is 38 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Amazon Com (AMZN), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 27 Oct 2026. That is 6 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Amazon Com (AMZN) (held by a spouse), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 2 Oct 2026. That is 31 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Amazon Com (AMZN) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 28 Aug 2026. That is 66 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Costco Wholesale (COST), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 13 Oct 2026. That is 20 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Costco Wholesale (COST) (held by a spouse), worth $250,001 - $500,000 on 2 Oct 2026. That is 31 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Costco Wholesale (COST) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 25 Sep 2026. That is 38 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who collects and who pays in defense
Companies tied to this story
- XRT Spdr Series Trust
In “Who is hacking Europe’s supermarket fridges and freezers, and why?,” Spdr Series Trust (XRT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: SPDR S&P Retail ETF: it holds retailers. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story
- XLY Select Sector Spdr Tr
For “Who is hacking Europe’s supermarket fridges and freezers, and why?,” Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLY) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR: it holds retailers. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story
- DBA Invesco Db Agriculture Fund
For “Who is hacking Europe’s supermarket fridges and freezers, and why?,” Invesco Db Agriculture Fund (DBA) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Invesco DB Agriculture Fund: it follows farm commodity prices. Linked by “food supply” (grains and farm goods) in this story
- IYT Ishares Tr
In “Who is hacking Europe’s supermarket fridges and freezers, and why?,” Ishares Tr (IYT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: iShares U.S. Transportation ETF: it holds transport and logistics firms. Linked by “supply chain” (transport and logistics) in this story
- VGK Vanguard Intl Equity Index F
Vanguard Intl Equity Index F (VGK) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 2 Nov 2026 story “Who is hacking Europe’s supermarket fridges and freezers, and why?.” Reason on file: Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF holds stocks listed in Europe, which this story is about (“europe”)
- WMT Walmart
In “Who is hacking Europe’s supermarket fridges and freezers, and why?,” Walmart (WMT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Walmart (variety stores): retailers move with shopper spending and import costs. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story
- AMZN Amazon Com
In “Who is hacking Europe’s supermarket fridges and freezers, and why?,” Amazon Com (AMZN) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Amazon.com (catalog and mail-order houses): retailers move with shopper spending and import costs. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story
- COST Costco Wholesale
For “Who is hacking Europe’s supermarket fridges and freezers, and why?,” Costco Wholesale (COST) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Costco Wholesale (variety stores): retailers move with shopper spending and import costs. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story
How defense news reaches Spdr Series Trust (XRT)
Spdr Series Trust (XRT) is the company in “Who is hacking Europe’s supermarket fridges and freezers, and why?,” the 2 Nov 2026 Defense story.
For Spdr Series Trust (XRT), the reason on file says SPDR S&P Retail ETF: it holds retailers. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story
Also listed, Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLY): Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR: it holds retailers. Linked by “consumer” (retail and consumer goods) in this story
Dates in the story, and the Spdr Series Trust (XRT) price range
DBA traded between 26.87 and 28.86 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 26.88. XLY traded between 110.58 and 116.77 across 19 sessions. The latest close on file is 115.38.
A simple score for Spdr Series Trust (XRT)
46 out of 100
“Who is hacking Europe’s supermarket fridges and freezers, and why?” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 8 linked companies.