When it comes to ransomware,Denmark you don't always get what you pay for.
Colonial Pipeline, which operates more than 5,500 miles of fuel pipelines in the United States, found that out the hard way this week. It reportedly forked over almost $5 million worth of bitcoin to the hacking group that forced the company to proactively shut down its systems. But the company ended up using its own backups to restore operations anyway, according to Bloomberg.
The decryption software provided by the hacking group DarkSide, notes Bloomberg, was reportedly "so slow" that Colonial Pipeline "continued using its own backups to help restore the system."
Ransomware is malware that encrypts victims' computers and demands payment in exchange for the decryption key. Bloomberg reports that Colonial Pipeline paid the almost $5 million ransom on Friday (the price of bitcoin has dropped since late last week) — in other words, almost immediately after it says it detected the infection.
Nicole Perlroth, a noted cybersecurity reporter for the New York Times, confirmed that the payment was 75 bitcoin — although she reports that the payment was made Monday, not Friday.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
On Monday, with gasoline panic buying in the news and the White House getting involved, DarkSide released a statement insisting that it never meant to make such a mess of things.
SEE ALSO: How to blur your house on Google Street View (and why you should)
"Our goal is to make money," read the statement in part, "and not creating problems for society."
DarkSide, according to its website, makes that money various ways. In addition to ransomware, it also threatens to leak companies' data to third parties (including short sellers) unless additional payment is made.
On Thursday, Colonial Pipeline announced that its systems were back up and running — with very little thanks, it would seem, to that payment of 75 bitcoin.
Topics Bitcoin Cybersecurity Cryptocurrency
'Thunderbolts*' mid
Donald Trump's company is hoarding thousands of website domains
Shane Dawson and Jeffree Star's 'Conspiracy' makeup collab broke Shopify
Tesla Model S takes on Porsche Taycan Turbo S in 'Top Gear' drag race
NYT Strands hints, answers for May 1
Apple pulls iOS 13.2 update for HomePods after bricking devices
Apple Card will soon become one of the best ways to buy an iPhone
AirPods Pro and Android: Is it worth it?
Best Samsung Frame deal: Free Music Frame with Frame Pro art TV purchase
Horrific harassment story is giving the internet a new reason to #DeleteUber
Alienware M16 Gaming Laptop deal: Save $560
Halloween is over. The seasonal holiday wars have begun.
Are we really not there yet on women in tech sales?
'Death Stranding' is a haunting sci
Get Rid of Windows 10 Ads, Office Offers and Other Annoyances
Apple pulls iOS 13.2 update for HomePods after bricking devices
Holiday takes an anti
The many tech fails of cursed muppet Rudy Giuliani
Reality Distortion Field: 10 Things Apple Won't Directly Say But We'll Infer About the iPhone X
Cops help 10
Baidu Search integrates DeepSeek and Large Model ERNIE for advanced search · TechNodeThe space station has a risky leak. How bad is it?Tencent and 2K team up to launch mobile game NBA 2K All Star on March 25 · TechNodeChinese automakers to stay ahead despite Tesla rolling out FSD features, expert says · TechNodeThis black hole just did something theoretically impossibleNASA spotted a very young planet. It could become a superTuSimple closes Guangzhou gaming division and faces legal claims from employees · TechNodeSamsung devices get Circle to Search with translation and homework helpScientists discover where the huge dinosaurApple tests DeepSeek model but shifts to Alibaba for AI features in China · TechNodeNASA just found unexpected loads of water ice on the moonWhere to preSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 unveiled at Unpacked July 2024: New camera, better batteryVivo announces integration of DeepSeek into its mobile operating system · TechNodeWebb telescope just snapped view of a distant world before it disappears5 best Samsung Galaxy AI features announced at July Unpacked 2024The sun will be really stormy for the next year, NASA saysBYD to launch affordable electric SUV in France · TechNode'House of the Dragon' Season 2, episode 4: Pay attention to the dogs at HarrenhalBest Target Circle week deal: The Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ is under $100 The Child Thing: An Interview with Sheila Heti by Claudia Dey xHamster to delete amateur videos in the Netherlands Lofi Girl YouTube stream has a companion: Synth Boy Redux: Emily’s Other Daffodil by The Paris Review Wordle today: The answer and hints for November 25 Donald Trump arrested as the internet erupts with memes Black Friday gaming laptop deals 2023: Acer, MSI, more Black Friday unlocked phone deals: Apple, Google, Samsung, more Forging Intimacy Solawave's new Radiant Renewal Wand is now available The #MeToo Poem That Brought Down Korea's Most Revered Poet Seeing Beyond the Tip of Your Nose New Casper launch: Check out The Casper and Snow mattresses Whither the Angel in ‘Angels in America’? Tom Wolfe, 1930–2018 Staff Picks: Smugglers, Lovers, and Dead Husbands Target's Black Friday sale is live — check out the deals here EpiC MeMe PoSTer Elon Musk promises to ditch legacy blue checks on 4/20. Twitter rolls eyes. On Trump indictment day, Twitter is good again ‘The Birds’ at Rikers Island
1.9958s , 8200.640625 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Denmark】,Co-creation Information Network