{"id":125034,"date":"2021-05-14T04:49:19","date_gmt":"2021-05-14T04:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=125034"},"modified":"2021-05-14T04:49:19","modified_gmt":"2021-05-14T04:49:19","slug":"fact-check-colonial-pipeline-gas-shortage-was-result-of-cyberattack-by-hackers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/business\/fact-check-colonial-pipeline-gas-shortage-was-result-of-cyberattack-by-hackers\/","title":{"rendered":"Fact check: Colonial Pipeline gas shortage was result of cyberattack by hackers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The claim: Colonial Pipeline gas shortage was intentional<\/h2>\n

In response to the Colonial Pipeline hack,\u00a0many Americans along the East Coast flocked to gas stations to panic buy fuel. On social media, some users promoted baseless claims that the gas shortage was intentional.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m not buying this \u2018cyber attack\u2019. Right before vacation season? Ya no this is a ploy,\u201d read a May 10 post.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere ARE no coincidences! This intentional \u2018Gas shortage\u2019 is by design. Next thing will be FOOD if we don\u2019t do something FAST!\u201d claimed a May 11 Facebook post.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me get this straight. Suddenly, going into summer vacation season, there\u2019s an unheard of cyber attack that totally shuts down \u2153 of the countries gas supply (almost all red states with no COVID restrictions) –\u00a0and the Biden regime is blaming Russia?\u201d said another May 11 post.<\/p>\n

Fact check: <\/strong>Viral image of plastic bags filled with gas is from 2019<\/span><\/p>\n

The pipeline’s closure was the result of a cyberattack on the company that operates it. There is no evidence to suggest it is part of a larger plan. <\/p>\n

USA TODAY reached out to several of the posters for comment. None responded.<\/p>\n

Hackers target Colonial Pipeline Co.<\/h2>\n

On May 8, Colonial Pipeline Co.\u00a0announced it had been the victim of a ransomware attack that affected its information technology systems.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ransomware attacks are cybercrimes in which hackers encrypt an organization’s data and demand ransom payments for returned control. These cyberattacks typically target corporations, however, several hospitals, local governments and states\u00a0have been victims of ransomware attacks over the past year.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Fuel tanks are seen at Colonial Pipeline Baltimore Delivery in Baltimore, Md. on May 10, 2021. (Photo: JIM WATSON, AFP via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn response to the cybersecurity attack on our system, we proactively took certain systems offline to contain the threat, which temporarily halted all pipeline operations, and affected some of our IT systems,\u201d Colonial Pipeline\u00a0said in a May 10 statement. “To restore service, we must work to ensure that each of these systems can be brought back online safely.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n

Fact check: <\/strong>Posts draw misleading comparison between Colonial Pipeline hack and unfounded election fraud claims<\/span><\/p>\n

The offline pipeline caused gas shortages in many communities along the East Coast. In a May 13 statement, Colonial Pipeline announced it has made \u201csubstantial progress\u201d in its efforts to restart its system.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Energy industry experts told USA TODAY the gas supply issues should stabilize soon.<\/p>\n

Colonial Pipeline declined USA TODAY’s request for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The FBI said\u00a0ransomware created by cybercrime group DarkSide had been responsible for the Colonial Pipeline attack. CNBC reported that\u00a0DarkSide develops and sells ransomware software to other criminals that\u00a0then carry out attacks.<\/p>\n

Fact check: <\/strong>Yes, viral photo shows gas hoarding in Alabama after Colonial Pipeline hack<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Vehicles wait in lines along the perimeter of the Sheetz in Raleigh, N.C., as a tanker truck finishes delivering a 9000 gallon load of fuel, May 13, 2021. Operators of the Colonial Pipeline say they began the process of moving fuel through the pipeline again on Wednesday, six days after it was shut down because of a cyberattack. (Photo: Travis Long, The News & Observer via AP)<\/span><\/p>\n

Our rating: False<\/h2>\n

We rate the claim that the Colonial Pipeline gas shortage was intentional FALSE because it is not supported by our research. An FBI investigation\u00a0found the gas shortage was the result of a ransomware attack by cybercrime organization DarkSide against Colonial Pipeline. <\/p>\n

Our fact-check sources:<\/h2>\n