By Stephanie Kelly and Christopher Bing
NEW YORK (Reuters) -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 that involved ransomware.
The incident is one of the most disruptive digital ransom operations ever reported and has drawn attention to how critical U.S. energy infrastructure is vulnerable to hackers. A prolonged shutdown would cause prices to spike at gasoline pumps ahead of peak summer driving season.
Colonial transports 2.5 million barrels per day of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other refined products through 5,500 miles (8,850 km) of pipelines linking refiners on the Gulf Coast to the eastern and southern United States. It serves some of the country’s largest airports, including Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson Airport, the world’s busiest by passenger traffic.
The Colonial Pipeline serves millions of customers on the East Coast, including Washington Dulles International Airport
The Colonial Pipeline serves millions of customers on the East Coast, including Washington Dulles International Airport Washington (AFP) - The largest fuel pipeline system in the United States was forced to shut down its entire network after a ransomware attack, the operating company said in a statement Saturday. The Colonial Pipeline Company ships gasoline and jet fuel from the Gulf Coast of Texas to the populous East Coast through 5,500 miles (8,850 kilometers) of pipeline, serving 50 million consumers. It said it had been the victim of a cybersecurity attack which involved ransomware attacks that encrypt computer systems and seek to extract payments from operators.
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Major US pipeline shut by ransomware attack
The Colonial Pipeline serves millions of customers on the East Coast, including Washington Dulles International Airport AFP/KAREN BLEIER
09 May 2021 07:16AM (Updated:
09 May 2021 07:16AM) Share this content
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WASHINGTON: The largest fuel pipeline system in the United States was forced to shut down its entire network after a ransomware attack, the operating company said in a statement on Saturday (May 8).
The Colonial Pipeline Company ships gasoline and jet fuel from the Gulf Coast of Texas to the populous East Coast through 8,850km of pipeline, serving 50 million consumers.
Major US Pipeline Targeted In Cyber Attack
05/08/21 AT 11:23 AM
The largest fuel pipeline system in the United States was forced to shut down its entire network after a cyber attack, the company said in a statement.
Colonial Pipeline ships gasoline and jet fuel from the Gulf Coast of Texas to the populous East Coast through 5,500 miles (8,850 kilometers) of pipeline, serving 50 million consumers.
In a statement the company said that on Friday it was the victim of a cybersecurity attack and that in response it took its systems offline.
This temporarily halted all pipeline operations, and affected some of our IT systems, the company said.