Supermarket Freezers Hit by Suspected Cyber-Attack
Listen to the story
Supermarkets in Belgium, Sweden and Luxembourg had a problem with their freezers. People think it was a cyber-attack.
A cyber-attack is when someone attacks a computer system. The attack can stop machines from working well.
In Sweden, stores said their freezer temperatures went up. The freezers reached 50°C. This is very hot for a freezer.
Freezers must stay very cold. Cold freezers keep food safe to eat. If freezers get too hot, food can go bad.
Nobody knows yet who did this. Companies are now checking their computer systems.
They want to find out what happened. They also want to stop it from happening again.
This story shows that shops use computers to control many things. Freezers are one example.
When computers have problems, it can affect real things like food and shops.
Vocabulary15 words
- cyber-attack
- an attack on a computer or computer system
- system
- a group of computers or machines that work together
- computer systems
- machines and programs that control things
- temperature
- how hot or cold something is
- freezer
- a machine that keeps food very cold
- supermarket
- a big shop that sells food
- suspected
- thought to be true, but not sure yet
- affected
- changed or damaged by something
- control
- to make something work the way you want
- machine
- something made to do a job, like cool food
- checking
- looking at something carefully
- safe
- not dangerous; ok to use
- example
- one case that shows something
- problem
- something wrong that needs fixing
- attack
- an action to hurt or damage something
📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?
Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.
Quiz
Answer key
1. Belgium, Sweden and Luxembourg 2. It went up to 50°C 3. False
✅ Nice work on the quiz!
Keep the momentum going — book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Supermarkets in Belgium, Sweden and Luxembourg had a problem with their _____. People think it was a _____.
A cyber-attack is when someone attacks a computer _____.
In Sweden, stores said their freezer _____ went up. The freezers reached _____.
Freezers must stay very cold. Cold freezers keep food _____ to eat.
Nobody knows yet who did this. Companies are now _____ their computer systems.
This story shows that shops use computers to _____ many things.
When computers have _____, it can affect real things like food and shops.
🎓 Enjoyed this story?
Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.
More Technology stories
Next story · Easy
Heavy Rain and Flood Risk for Central Florida This Weekend