Security News > 2021 > May > Cyberattack on US Pipeline is Linked to Criminal Gang
The cyberextortion attempt that has forced the shutdown of a vital U.S. pipeline was carried out by a criminal gang known as DarkSide that cultivates a Robin Hood image of stealing from corporations and giving a cut to charity, two people close to the investigation said Sunday.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Sunday that ransomware attacks are "What businesses now have to worry about," and that she will work "Very vigorously" with the Department of Homeland Security to address the problem, calling it a top priority for the administration.
"Unfortunately, these sorts of attacks are becoming more frequent," she said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "We have to work in partnership with business to secure networks to defend ourselves against these attacks."
"For companies vulnerable to ransomware, it's a bad sign because they are probably more vulnerable to more serious attacks," he said.
The average downtime for victims of ransomware attacks is 21 days, according to the firm Coveware, which helps victims respond.
David Kennedy, founder and senior principal security consultant at TrustedSec, said that once a ransomware attack is discovered, companies have little recourse but to completely rebuild their infrastructure, or pay the ransom.