How cybercriminals are hacking into the heart of the US economy

Ransomware attacks have become a global epidemic, with more than $18.6bn paid in ransoms in 2020

Fears the shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline because of a cyberattack would cause a gasoline shortage led to some panic buying
The shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline because of a cyberattack led to some panic buying petrol
(Image credit: LOGAN CYRUS/AFP via Getty Images)

For years, experts have warned that state-sponsored hackers could launch a cyberwar against the US, shutting down swathes of its infrastructure, said Andy Greenberg on Wired. But we now know that hackers can, and will, do it just for the money. A Russia-based cybercrime group known as DarkSide has claimed responsibility for the recent attack on the computer systems of Colonial Pipeline, which supplies nearly half the fuel consumed on the East Coast. The attack obliged Colonial to shut down parts of its operation, causing fuel shortages that in turn led to panic buying. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia declared states of emergency; 12,000 petrol stations ran dry. It was “one of the largest disruptions of American critical infrastructure by hackers in history”.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us