Peoria, IL, USA 1470 & 100.3 WMBD
May 12, 2021 | 5:44 AM
FILE PHOTO: Holding tanks are seen in an aerial photograph at Colonial Pipeline s Dorsey Junction Station in Woodbine, Maryland, U.S. May 10, 2021. REUTERS/Drone Base
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The shutdown of the biggest U.S. fuel pipeline by a ransomware attack highlights a systemic vulnerability: Pipeline operators have no requirement to implement cyber defenses.
The U.S. government has had robust, compulsory cybersecurity protocols for most of the power grid for about 10 years to prevent debilitating hacks by criminals or state actors.
But the country’s 2.7 million miles (4.3 million km) of oil, natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines have only voluntary measures, which leaves security up to the individual operators, experts said.
As for the gas lines, it’s not clear when distribution on the East Coast will be back to normal, even if the pipeline is back up and running by the end of the week.
“I think that it’ll at least be annoying or inconvenient to find gasoline . into next week,” Kloza said. “But really, we’re waiting on Colonial.”
He said he thinks things will calm down once the company sends a strong signal that fuel is once again moving.
De Haan put a longer timeline on it, saying he thinks it will take “a few weeks probably at best” for the situation to return to normal.
CARROLL COUNTY — Two economic development organizations are working with Purdue University to study the economic impact of last year’s reduced water levels on Lake Freeman.
Analysis - Cyberattack exposes lack of required defenses on U.S. pipelines
By Timothy Gardner
Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The shutdown of the biggest U.S. fuel pipeline by a ransomware attack highlights a systemic vulnerability: Pipeline operators have no requirement to implement cyber defenses.
The U.S. government has had robust, compulsory cybersecurity protocols for most of the power grid for about 10 years to prevent debilitating hacks by criminals or state actors.
But the country s 2.7 million miles (4.3 million km) of oil, natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines have only voluntary measures, which leaves security up to the individual operators, experts said.