Tech

US seizes $2.3 million Colonial Pipeline paid to ransomware attackers

Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) The FBI said it has seized $2.3 million paid to the ransomware attackers who paralyzed the network of Colonial Pipeline and touched off gasoline and jet fuel supplies up and down the East Coast last month. In dollar amounts, the sum represents about half of the $4.4 million that Colonial Pipeline […]

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Colonial Pipeline paid a $5 million ransom—and kept a vicious cycle turning

Enlarge (credit: Sean Rayford | Getty Images) Nearly a week after a ransomware attack led Colonial Pipeline to halt fuel distribution on the East Coast, reports emerged on Friday that the company paid a 75 bitcoin ransom—worth as much as $5 million, depending on the time of payment—in an attempt to restore service more quickly. […]

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Pipeline attacker Darkside suddenly goes dark—here’s what we know

Enlarge Darkside—the ransomware group that disrupted gasoline distribution across a wide swath of the US this week—has gone dark, leaving it unclear if the group is ceasing, suspending, or altering its operations or is simply orchestrating an exit scam. On Thursday, all eight of the dark web sites Darkside used to communicate with the public […]

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Colonial Pipeline resumes operations after ransomware prompted closure

Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) Colonial Pipeline said it restarted operations on Wednesday afternoon after a five-day outage brought on by a ransomware attack caused gasoline shortages and panic buying in East Coast states. “Following this restart, it will take several days for the product delivery supply chain to return to normal,” the operator of the […]

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Major ransomware attack cripples gas pipeline on US East Coast

Enlarge / Problems with Colonial Pipeline’s distribution system tend to lead to gasoline runs and price increases across the US Southeast and Eastern seaboard. In this September 2016 photo, a man prepared to refuel his vehicle after a Colonial leak in Alabama. (credit: Luke Sharrett via Getty Images) On Friday, Colonial Pipeline took many of […]