Russian Hackers Paralyze Major U.S. Fuel Pipeline in Ransomware Attack
A Russian cybercriminal group known as DarkSide forces the Colonial Pipeline to shut down, prompting a federal emergency declaration to ease fuel transport rules. The attack threatens to cause gas shortages and price hikes across the eastern United States.
A Russian cybercriminal group known as DarkSide forces the largest fuel pipeline in the United States to shut down completely. The Colonial Pipeline halts all four of its main lines after hackers breach its business networks, prompting the federal government to issue a rare emergency declaration to keep fuel flowing to the eastern U.S.
The Department of Transportation lifts federal regulations for tanker truck drivers across 17 states and Washington, D.C., allowing them to work longer hours to compensate for the pipeline disruption. This emergency order remains in effect until June 8 as the nation already deals with a shortage of qualified truck drivers to transport fuel.
Colonial Pipeline works to implement a phased approach to restore services by the end of the week, though an exact timeline remains uncertain. Homeland Security officials confirm the hackers do not access the computers that physically control the pipeline, and DarkSide releases a statement claiming it is apolitical and did not intend to cause such widespread disruption.