A sign at the Colonial Pipeline Houston Station facility in Pasadena, Texas, warns against trespassing. Colonial was forced to shut down a key pipeline last month after suffering a ransomware attack. Such attacks are becoming more frequent and increasingly, they are targeting key infrastructure like fuel or food supplies. Credit: AFP via Getty Images
U.S. Suffers Over 7 Ransomware Attacks An Hour. It s Now A National Security Risk By
at 2:24 pm NPR
The United States suffered 65,000 ransomware attacks last year â or over seven an hour. And it will likely get worse.
What was previously seen as a nuisance is fast becoming a national security problem as cybercriminals target key parts of the country s infrastructure. A recent attack on Colonial Pipeline sparked panic buying that emptied many gas stations across the Southeast, while another attack on JBS raised fears about the domestic beef supply.