Ransomware forced a major U.S. fuel pipeline to shut down

From hospitals, to ports, to kindergartens, to even golfers, ransomware operators have never exactly discriminated when it came to their potential victims. And as of Friday, they can officially notch a new one in their criminal belt: U.S. fuel pipelines.

According to a statement from Colonial Pipeline, which operates "the largest refined products pipeline in the United States," the company discovered Friday that its IT systems were affected by ransomware. In response, it proactively took its entire pipeline offline.

And to be clear, it's a lot of pipeline — running over 5,500 miles from New Jersey to Texas.  Read more...