Why are supermarket fridges connected to the internet, and how are hackers exploiting them?

Recent cyberattacks on supermarket refrigeration systems in Belgium and France have exposed significant vulnerabilities. Around 40 Delhaize supermarkets and several others lost food worth about €100,000 due to the incidents. Researchers found nearly 13,000 vulnerable refrigeration management services accessible online across various countries. Many of these systems have outdated security measures, which increases the risks of unauthorized access.