The biggest US fuel pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline, shuts down its entire network on Friday after a ransomware attack.
- Colonial Pipeline, the largest fuel pipeline distributor in the United States, shuts down operations after being hit by a ransomware attack.
- The company took certain systems offline to contain the threat, which has halted all pipeline operations and affected some of the IT systems.
The biggest US pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline shuts down its entire network on Friday after a ransomware attack.
Colonial Pipeline is the largest fuel pipeline in the United States that transports refined petroleum products between refineries located in the Gulf Coast. The pipeline extends across14 states and also directly services seven airports.
Today, Colonial Pipeline published a statement confirming the attack and announced that they temporarily shut down their pipeline operations while responding to the attack.
The operator of the system, Colonial Pipeline, reported that it had shut down its 5,500 miles of pipeline, which it says carries 45 per cent of the East Coast’s fuel supplies, to contain the breach.
“On May 7, the Colonial Pipeline Company learned it was the victim of a cybersecurity attack. In response, we proactively took certain systems offline to contain the threat, which has temporarily halted all pipeline operations and affected some of our IT systems."
"Upon learning of the issue, a leading, third-party cybersecurity firm was engaged, and they have already launched an investigation into the nature and scope of this incident, which is ongoing," said Colonial Pipeline in a statement.
According to a US official and another person familiar with the matter, it appears to have been carried out by an Eastern European-based criminal gang, DarkSide.
“We encourage every organization to take action to strengthen their cybersecurity posture to reduce their exposure to these types of threats," said Eric Goldstein, executive assistant director of the cybersecurity division at the federal Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency, in a statement.
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