The FBI’s U.S. investigators have made a big catch!
Following a hacking attack on the largest petrol pipeline in the United States, investigators have recovered most of the ransom in bitcoin, a $ 2.3 million digital currency.
The FBI has uncovered a digital wallet containing 63.7 bitcoins allegedly used by hackers to extort money from the company, FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbott told a news conference Monday.
The operator of the Colonial Pipeline admitted to paying $ 4.4 million (3. 3.6 million) in the “Wall Street Journal” at the end of May. Colonial boss Joseph Blount explained this controversial decision, making the company unsure of the extent of the computer damage.
The Horker group Darkshit claimed responsibility for the attack. In mid-May, he announced that he had lost the ransom. The colony claimed to have paid less than five million dollars.
As a result of the hacker attack, the colony temporarily shut down the pipeline, running 45 percent of the fuel consumed on the U.S. East Coast. There have been petrol disruptions in some parts of the United States and sometimes turmoil at gas stations.
US Attorney General Lisa Monaco (53)Photo: Jonathan Ernst / A.P.
According to the colony, the pipeline is now back on track. “This is an attack on one of our most important national infrastructure,” said Lisa Monaco of the U.S. Justice Department.
Both U.S. criminals and IT security experts strongly advise providing a ransom so as not to encourage cybercriminals to be intimidated. There have been cases where companies have paid before, but withdrawals are very rare.
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