DarkSide Hackers Adopt Ethical Facade After Colonial Pipeline Attack
The FBI confirms that the DarkSide hacking group is responsible for the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack. The criminal organization operates on a ransomware-as-a-service model and now claims to follow a code of conduct to avoid social harm.
The FBI confirms that the DarkSide hacking group is responsible for the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack that disrupts fuel supplies. Cybersecurity firm Cybereason reports that DarkSide operates on a "ransomware as a service" business model, developing and selling malicious software to other criminals who execute the actual attacks.
In response to the massive pipeline shutdown, DarkSide releases a statement claiming to be apolitical and strictly motivated by profit. The group insists it does not want to create problems for society and promises to implement new moderation checks on future targets chosen by its partners.
Despite this attempt to appear ethical, experts note that DarkSide maintains a dark web site to leak victim data and provides highly professional customer support to its criminal affiliates. The gang follows a perverse code of conduct that protects hospitals, schools, and former Soviet entities while actively targeting for-profit companies in English-speaking countries.