DAMON. Andre Damon (World Socialist Web Site, WSWS) on Israeli and US foreknowledge of the 7 October breakout plans: “On Friday, the New York Times published
Philip Reitinger, president and CEO, Global Cyber Alliance
It’s serious, impactful and raises new questions about critical infrastructure protection. But don’t tell Philip Reitinger of the Global Cyber Alliance that the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack is any kind of a “wake-up call.” He says we’re long past that.
These type of attacks have been common since 1997, Reitinger says, so “if anybody is surprised, you’re just not paying attention.”
The potential economic impact of a long-term shutdown is concerning, but what Reitinger fears the most from the Colonial Pipeline attack is copycat strikes.
“It’s now clear that this sort of disruption can be significant,” he says. “While I’m sure the most sophisticated actors were thinking about it, are individual people, or smaller groups - terrorist or criminal groups - now thinking, ‘Hey, this is a way that we can make a name for ourselves ?