The malware strain shut down operations at the US fuel provider last week Further details related to notorious ransomware DarkSide have emerged, as the FBI urges critical infrastructure operators to adopt a “heightened state of awareness” following the Colonial Pipeline attack. The malware strain first emerged in 2020 with a Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) model, meaning that the group behind it launched attacks on behalf of paying clients, or “partners”, rather than simply selling its code. Last week, DarkSide hit the headlines after the group targeted US gas supplier Colonial Pipeline, shutting down operations and raising alarm about the prospect of gasoline shortages.