Top U.S. fuel pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline is working to restore service after a ransomware cyberattack that sparked worries of a spike in retail gasoline prices
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NEW YORK Top U.S. fuel pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline shut its entire network, the source of nearly half of the U.S. East Coast’s fuel supply, after a cyber attack on Friday that involved ransomware.
The incident is one of the most disruptive digital ransom operations ever reported and has drawn attention to how vulnerable U.S. energy infrastructure is to hackers. A prolonged shutdown of the line would cause prices to spike at gasoline pumps ahead of peak summer driving season, a potential blow to U.S. consumers and the economy.
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US government working to help top fuel pipeline operator after cyberattack
US government working to help top fuel pipeline operator after cyberattack
President Joe Biden was briefed on the cyberattack on Saturday morning.
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Photo for representation. Reuters
US government officials were working closely with top US fuel pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline on Sunday to help it recover from a ransomware cyberattack that forced the company to shut a critical fuel network supplying populous eastern states.
The attack is one of the most disruptive digital ransom operations reported and has prompted calls from American lawmakers to tighten protections for critical U.S. energy infrastructure against hackers. read more
Ransomware Attack Makes Largest Fuel Pipeline in U.S. to Close
Posted on 05/09/2021
Colonial Pipeline is the operator of the biggest gasoline pipeline in the U.S. Colonial Pipeline ceased operations late Friday after a ransomware attack. FireEye Inc. said its Mandiant incident response division is assisting with the investigation. Colonial Pipeline is a main channel for the eastern half of the U.S. when it comes to gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. The Colonial Pipeline transports more than 100 million gallons of gasoline and other fuel daily from Houston to the New York Harbor. Colonial Pipeline has contacted law enforcement and other federal agencies.
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Investigators are looking at a group of hackers called DarkSide, who seem to be behind the cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline, which temporarily halted its pipeline operations on Friday.
What Happened: The cyberattack that led to the shutdown began on Thursday. The attackers stole a large amount of data from Colonial Pipeline before locking computers with ransomware and demanding payment, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter.
Ransomware is a type of malware designed to lock down systems by encrypting data, with the attackers then demanding payment to regain access.
According to the investigators, the hackers took nearly 100 gigabytes of data from the Alpharetta, a Georgia-based company s network in two hours on Thursday.