A cyber-attack on a major pipeline company in the United States has shut down all of its fuel transmission networks.
The big American pipeline company “Colonial Pipeline” was targeted by a cyber-attack and its entire network was cut off.
According to Reuters, the pipeline network was transporting fuel from refineries near the Gulf of Mexico to the southern and eastern parts of the United States. The company transported 2.5 million barrels of fuel per day, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum products, through the 8,850-kilometer pipeline.
Colonial Pipeline said in a statement that it was notified of the cyber-attack on Friday and shut down all its systems to contain potential threats. The attack prompted the company to suspend operations and damage some of its IT systems.
The company asked a cybersecurity company to assist in investigating the hacking attack and notified law enforcement and other federal agencies of the incident, the statement said.
The United States has become one of the targets of heavy cyber-attacks over the past few months. Last year, hackers were able to gain access to key US agencies and ministries. The hackers are said to have been receiving sensitive US intelligence over the course of several months.