Gas Run

[SamSpade]

The Colonial Pipeline Was Fine, But Its Owner Shut It Down To Make Sure They'd Get Paid Correctly
https://jalopnik.com/author/jrodriguezjr


Zero Day’s Kim Zetter had noted this may be the case and CNN confirmed it in a later report, emphasis mine:

The company halted operations because its billing system was compromised, three people briefed on the matter told CNN, and they were concerned they wouldn’t be able to figure out how much to bill customers for fuel they received.

One person familiar with the response said the billing system is central to the unfettered operation of the pipeline. That is part of the reason getting it back up and running has taken time, this person said.

Asked about whether the shutdown was prompted by concerns about payment, the company spokesperson said, “In response to the cybersecurity attack on our system, we proactively took certain systems offline to contain the threat, which temporarily halted all pipeline operations, and affected some of our IT systems.”

As much as I am always skeptical of conspiracy theories - this one doesn't seem too far fetched, although the rationale seems - dumb.
You don't cripple the East Coast over a quarrel over billing.

But I am beginning to weary over the constant idea that "Russian hackers" are somehow able to screw up EVERYTHING - including the 2016 election but absolutely NOT the 2020 election.

If "Russian hackers" sold stock, I'd be their biggest customer - evidently they control the world and not the Illuminati.

 

[GURPS]

As much as I am always skeptical of conspiracy theories - this one doesn't seem too far fetched, although the rationale seems - dumb.
You don't cripple the East Coast over a quarrel over billing.

Sure you do ..... 1.4 Billion in Revenue last year ... Ya Gotta Get Paid

If "Russian hackers" sold stock, I'd be their biggest customer - evidently they control the world and not the Illuminati.

Hackers behind Colonial Pipeline attack reportedly received $90 million in bitcoin before shutting down


Colonial Pipeline was hit with a devastating cyberattack earlier this month that forced the company to shut down approximately 5,500 miles of pipeline in the United States, crippling gas delivery systems in Southeastern states. The FBI blamed the attack on DarkSide, a cybercriminal gang believed to be based in Eastern Europe, and Colonial reportedly paid a $5 million ransom to the group.

DarkSide operates what’s known as a “ransomware as a service” business model, meaning the hackers develop and market ransomware tools and sell them to other criminals who then carry out attacks. Ransomware is a type of malicious software that’s designed to block access to a computer system. Hackers demand a ransom payment — typically cryptocurrency — in return for restoring access.

On Friday, London-based blockchain analytics firm Elliptic said it had identified the bitcoin wallet used by DarkSide to collect ransom payments from its victims. The same day, security researchers Intel 471 said DarkSide had closed down after losing access to its servers and as its cryptocurrency wallets were emptied. DarkSide also blamed “pressure from the U.S.,” according to a note obtained by Intel 471.

 

[SamSpade]

If Gas Buddy's fuel tracker is accurate and so far it's been perfect - you CAN get gas just about anywhere if you make even a small effort.

 

[Hijinx]

It's gotten beyond ransom at5tacks on us regular folks and gone into a National Security Issue. It's time the ransom ware hacker were punished, and hard.
Certainly they shut down after getting their 90 million in bitcoin, They didn't want to get tracked, but they (and others) will be back.

There's gold in them there hills.

 

[Yooper]

...because, “mean tweets!”, or something.

--- End of (the gas) line (MCP)