Ransomware Attacks Like Colonial Pipeline 'Will Get Much Worse,' Experts Say

(JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

By    |   Monday, 17 May 2021 08:04 AM EDT ET

Scenes of gas-panicked commuters in southern states – where large numbers of filling stations ran empty, massive lines formed at the few with fuel, and anxious drivers had to be reminded not to fill plastic bags with gasoline – masked an even more disturbing development: Ransomware attacks like the one precipitating the crisis are almost impossible to deter or defend against.

Hackers have hit computer systems for public schools, law enforcement agencies, hospital networks, and major infrastructure installations in recent years, as the digital age has also spawned a prolific new form of information warfare.

Marisa Herman

Marisa Herman, a Newsmax senior reporter, focuses on major and investigative stories. A University of Florida graduate, she has more than a decade of experience as a reporter for newspapers, magazines, and websites.

© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


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The Russia-based DarkSide group's cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline thrust the hacking menace into the spotlight due to the resulting gas shortages in the Southeast that caused some stations to run dry and others to hike prices...
ransomware, attack, colonial pipeline
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2021-04-17
Monday, 17 May 2021 08:04 AM
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