Hacked US fuel pipeline flows again

WASHINGTON: The US pipeline network shut down by a cyber attack has returned to fully “normal operations”, easing concerns but not immediately ending petrol shortages in many eastern states.

Colonial Pipeline had announced late on Thursday that its system was back up and running but said it might take days for the supply chain to return to normal.

But on Saturday, the Georgiabased company announced a full return to normal.

Washington believes a Russiabased criminal group known as Darkside targeted the company in a so-called ransomware attack.

On Friday, computer servers for Darkside were taken down by unknown actors. Security firm Recorded Future said Darkside had admitted in a web post that it lost access to certain servers, though reportedly only after receiving a $5m ransom payment from Colonial Pipeline.

Former US Treasury secretary Larry Summers said US officials had probably exerted heavy pressure on the Russian leadership to shut down the hackers.

Colonial’s temporary shutdown led to panic buying, with frantic motorists from Florida to Maryland lining up at petrol stations.