(LibertySociety.com) – Over the last 20 years, the world has come to rely on technology more and more to carry out nearly everything, including oil and gas production. Recently, an attack threatened the ability of the US to produce that much-needed commodity.
On May 8, Colonial Pipeline Company released a statement informing Americans that there was a cyberattack on the largest pipeline in the US. The Colonial pipeline provides roughly 45% of the fuel to the southern and eastern parts of the country. The company said the attack involved ransomware, and that they shut down pipeline operations. A ransomware attack is characterized as a hacker gaining access to a system and then demanding money or threatening to do something to that system if demands are not met.
— Colonial Pipeline (@Colpipe) May 9, 2021
Authorities are investigating the attack, and the company hopes to be operational again by the end of the week. But this situation once again exposes the dangers companies are facing. There’s a concern that cybercriminals could cripple the world if they attack vital infrastructures like pipelines and utility companies, both of which have happened in recent years. Cyber experts are constantly figuring out ways to keep hackers out. It’s easy to understand why it’s been called one of the biggest threats to national security.
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