A criminal group from Russia
is believed to be responsible for a major cyberattack that prompted a shutdown
of one of the largest fuel pipelines in the U.S.
According to a former senior U.S. cyber official, the criminal group is
known as Darkside. The attack comes amid rising concerns over cybersecurity
vulnerabilities in the critical infrastructure in the country.
The gasoline supplier, Colonial Pipeline, says some of its smaller lines
are back online, but their main lines are still down. The company transports
nearly half of all fuel for the east coast -- more than 100 million gallons of
gasoline and other fuel daily from Houston to the New York harbor.
There are concerns over how the attack could impact fuel supply ahead of
the summer travel season. In New Jersey, gas prices are already rising.
Nationally gas prices are also increasing. Drivers are paying about a $1 more
than last year at the height of the coronavirus pandemic and the shutdowns along
with it.
Officials say prices and supply shouldn't be affected, so long as it's
not a prolonged shutdown. The Department of Transportation is going to allow
tanker truck drivers work longer hours to make up for some of the loss.
The White House, the
Department of Energy, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are all
working on a coordinated response to the attack