[author: Geoff Yut]
On May 7, 2021, Colonial Pipeline, a major U.S. fuel pipeline operator, halted operations as a precautionary measure after a cyberattack involving ransomware was discovered. The attackers appear to have accessed business systems from which they stole nearly 100 gigabytes of data before they locked Colonial Pipeline’s computers and demanded ransom.
Responsible for nearly half of the U.S. East Coast’s fuel supply, Colonial Pipeline supplies fuels from Gulf Coast refining centers to cities, including Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Atlanta, transporting 2.5 million barrels per day of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel through 5,500 miles (8,850 km) of pipelines.