Posted on 05/08/2021 9:13:49 AM PDT by bitt
Colonial Pipeline halts all fuel pipeline operations in response to a cyberattack
A cyberattack has forced an operational shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline, the largest refined products pipeline in the United States.
The Colonial Pipeline Company said late Friday that it was the victim of a cyberattack, sparking the company to proactively take certain systems offline and temporarily halt all pipeline operations. The company said the attack had impacted some of its IT systems, but did not say if any of its operational technology (OT) systems were directly impacted.
It's unclear if the incident involved ransomware, or was another form or malware or breach.
The company has hired a third-party cybersecurity firm which has already launched an investigation into the nature and scope of this incident.
“Colonial Pipeline is taking steps to understand and resolve this issue,” the pipeline operator said in a statement. “At this time, our primary focus is the safe and efficient restoration of our service and our efforts to return to normal operation. This process is already underway, and we are working diligently to address this matter and to minimize disruption to our customers and those who rely on Colonial Pipeline.”
The Colonial Pipeline is the largest refined products pipeline in the United States, transporting more than 100 million gallons of fuel daily through a pipeline system that spans more than 5,500 miles between Houston, Texas and Linden, New Jersey.
The incident comes just days after the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) released a cybersecurity advisory focusing on the security of OT systems, particularly in terms of connectivity to IT systems.
Last year, the NSA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a joint alert urging critical infrastructure operators to take immediate measures to reduce the exposure of OT systems to cyberattacks.
(Excerpt) Read more at securityweek.com ...
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‘In 2019, an audit from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) showed that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) needed to address weaknesses in the management of key aspects of its pipeline security program.
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In 2014, several natural gas pipeline operators in the United States were affected by a cyberattack that hit a third-party communications system, but the incident did impact operational technology.
Following a review in how the TSA manages its pipeline security program, the GAO made a series of recommendations in December 2018 to address discovered weaknesses, which include updating pipeline security guidelines, planning for workforce needs, assessing pipeline risks, and monitoring program performance.
Back in 2012, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned that malicious actors had been targeting the natural gas industry. ‘
The enemies of America are the enemies of pipelines serving America.
Probably CIA.
Starting to boil down to the alligator’s choice ??
Who knew?
OBiden Administrators, would again, be found shipping money out of the country and the hands of the people as fast as they can.
Trump was a set back.
The People slept for decades too long.
As a result the Piper-paying is now in effect, against us.
Never nap.
Businesses get excited about how much money they save by automating. Then they refuse to invest in internet security.
We are in the midst of WW3, and the CCP is winning.
This was just a shot across the bow of the ship America by Red China.
The CCP is giving the US a hint of what will happen all over our US if the US government and military try to stop China on the day the CCP military invades Tiawan.
Our government, federal, state and local have to improve the cyber defenses. So do all our companies running our essential services. Do this now our suffer later.
Out reply could be to cause the three gorges dam to spring a leak.
Are they running Win98?
Yep. No doubt about it.
Fuel pipeline, yes. Could have been Chinese/Russian/Nork hackers, or it could have been domestic cyber terrorists. Somebody wants this to happen, and so it will, more and more often.
Chances are that electrical grid will be attacked this summer, at it’s hottest. Plus it is easy to predict that the California fire season is going to be particularly bad also. Wonderful.
The Biden administration is conveniently incompetent regarding national security, and cyber security is no exception.
Well, that’s one way to jack the price up another 50 cents a gallon.
If it gets bad enough the dormant American people will say “Hey, gas costs too much. The stuff at the grocery story and on Amazon went up due to gas costing too much. I don’t like Biden and Kamala any more. Waaaaaaaa.”
Someone said the real winner from the abrupt stop of the work on the unfinished big pipeline by Biden was China. Canada wanted to send oil to Texas by pipeline but would be told by China to deal with them instead. Win for China.
I thought those blue states on the east coast decided they don’t need hydrocarbons anymore?
Carter era was during my teens. From what I recall when interest rates spiked, gas was rationed and higher prices followed. He was universally hated by everyone.
^
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