Colonial Pipeline confirms it paid $4.4M to hackers [View all]
Source: Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) The operator of the nations largest fuel pipeline confirmed it paid $4.4 million to a gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems.
Colonial Pipeline said Wednesday that after it learned of the May 7 ransomware attack, the company took its pipeline system offline and needed to do everything in its power to restart it quickly and safely, and made the decision then to pay the ransom.
This decision was not made lightly, but it was one that had to be made, a company spokesman said. Tens of millions of Americans rely on Colonial hospitals, emergency medical services, law enforcement agencies, fire departments, airports, truck drivers and the traveling public.
Colonial Pipelines CEO, Joseph Blount, told The Wall Street Journal he authorized the payment because the company didnt know the extent of the damage and wasnt sure how long it would take to bring the pipelines systems back.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/hacking-technology-business-ed1556556c7af6220e6990978ab4f745