The United States is offering a 10 million USD reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the identification of the leaders of the DarkSide hacking group. A second reward of 5 million USD is offered to anyone who can help find the hackers working with the group.
On 7 May 2021, DarkSide successfully carried out a ransomware attack that crippled Colonial Pipeline's computer system. The 8 900 km long pipeline transports hydrocarbons from Houston, Texas to New York. Nearly 45% of the oil and gas needs of the East Coast of the United States are transported through this pipeline.
The cyber attack led to a disruption of air traffic, a shortage of hydrocarbons and a spike in fuel prices to levels that have not been reached since 2014.
In order to regain control of the pipeline, a ransom of 4.4 million USD was paid to the hackers in the form of bitcoins. Thanks to cryptocurrency tracking, nearly half of the ransom was recovered.
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