cybersecurity

US recovers $2.3M from Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack

Reuters

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US recovers $2.3M from Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack

CYBERSECURITY. A computer keyboard lit by a displayed cyber code is seen in this illustration picture taken on March 1, 2017.

Kacper Pempel/Reuters

US Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco says investigators seized 63.7 Bitcoins, now valued at about $2.3 million, paid by Colonial after the May hack

The US Justice Department on Monday, June 7, said it recovered some $2.3 million worth of cryptocurrency from the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack.

US Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said investigators had seized 63.7 Bitcoins, now valued at about $2.3 million, paid by Colonial after last month’s hack that led to massive shortages at gas stations along the East Coast just as the summer driving season began.

The Justice Department has “found and recaptured the majority” of the ransom paid by Colonial, Monaco said. Colonial Pipeline had said it paid the hackers nearly $5 million to regain access.

Last month, a cyber criminal group that US authorities said operated from Russia penetrated the pipeline operator on the US East Coast, locking its systems and demanding a ransom.

The hack caused a shutdown lasting several days, leading to a spike in gas prices, panic buying, and localized fuel shortages in the US Southeast.

The White House urged corporate executives and business leaders last week to step up security measures to protect against ransomware attacks after the Colonial attack and later intrusions that disrupted operations at a major meatpacking company.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Sunday the Biden administration was looking at all options to defend against ransomware attacks and that the topic would be on the agenda when President Joe Biden meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin this month. – Rappler.com

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