Preventing cyberattacks can no longer be a laissez-faire mission Out-of-service gas pumps in Oak Hill, Virginia, due to panic buying after the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack. In early May the nation felt a most feared crisis. A part of America was being held hostage by enemies of the United States and mercenaries who were seeking over $5 million in order for the United States to be made whole again from an all too critical energy perspective. It has been followed recently by cyberattacks against a large food processing company, a subway system and other smaller public services and businesses. Over the years hundreds of millions of dollars have been paid in cyber ransom incidents.