Colonial Pipeline resumes operations after cyber attack

On Wednesday, the Colonial Pipeline restarted operations after the system was taken offline Friday due to a cyber attack known as a “ransomware” attack.

Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm recently tweeted that the pipelines would start back around 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

We just got off the phone with #ColonialPipeline CEO. They are restarting pipeline operations today at ~5pm. More soon.

— Secretary Jennifer Granholm (@SecGranholm) May 12, 2021

While this should put a lot of minds to ease, concerning possible shortages in gasoline, Colonial Pipeline stated in a quote reported by CNBC, “Following this restart it will take several days for the product delivery supply chain to return to normal.”

The Colonial Pipeline is not the only pipeline that runs through Mississippi. Regardless, many started to “panic buy“, which only serves to speed along any potential shortages the area may have had. Other states, however, are feeling the shortage. CNBC reports that as of Wednesday, 65% of North Carolina gas stations were out of gas.

Other states, which do not receive their products through the pipeline, such as Florida, were also in panic buying mode. Miami-Dade County Mayor, Danielle Levine Cava weighed in on the situation in Florida via Twitter.

Reminder: South Florida receives gasoline from @PortEverglades, not the #ColonialPipeline. No one should worry as federal, state, and local leaders are coordinating to ensure we continue to have a strong supply of gasoline.

My office will continue to monitor closely.

— Daniella Levine Cava (@MayorDaniella) May 12, 2021

Details surrounding the hack are still widely unknown. Forbes reports that the hacking was likely Russian in origin, by a group which calls themselves “DarkSide”.  The FBI seems to be onboard with this explanation as well, as reported by the New York Times.

The New York Times has also reported that President Biden is ready to “disrupt and prosecute” the gang of hackers believed to be responsible for the ransomware attack.

Regardless of where the fault lies, one thing is certain. We must devise new methods in protecting our vulnerable, yet critical infrastructure from future cyber attacks.