Cyberattack Forces Closure of Largest U.S. Refined-Fuel Pipeline

Flopsweat · May 14, 2021

Ridge Walker said:
I also have worked on a isolated system with a dedicated hard wired console. You had to have the correct/current USB to boot it and the pass phrase for the USB, then for the system you needed the correct User ID then the correct PW. There were no prompts, just a black screen. What you typed didn't even appear. That system was a stand alone wired network, separate from the system that contacted the 'dirty world' via VPN only. The servers were in secure rooms and each system was a in cage. There were other security measures too.

About 5 months ago I and others were sent all over the country to secure facilities to manually change the IP addresses and subnets on location. All because for a undisclosed reason (above my pay grade) the old system was scrapped over night. We used our regular laptops to log in local through a browser window though.

On an air-gapped system, it's perfectly reasonable to prohibit outside connections or any hardware that's been connected outside. I'll agree with that completely.

Dinglenutz · May 14, 2021

Flopsweat said:
On an air-gapped system, it's perfectly reasonable to prohibit outside connections or any hardware that's been connected outside. I'll agree with that completely.

On the other hand, we also had rooms where anything that was foolishly brought in was no big deal, but it could never leave. The red room, AKA AV research.

ma96782 · May 14, 2021

And just like THAT.

DarkSide, We Hardly Knew Ya: Ransomware Gang Behind Pipeline Hack 'Quits' the Business

Less than 24 hours after President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. would seek to disrupt the operations of those responsible for the Colonial Pipeline attack, the gang in question seems to be ducking for cover—and claims it will shut down its criminal operation, at least for now.

gizmodo.com

Aloha, Mark

Flopsweat · May 14, 2021

Dinglenutz said:
On the other hand, we also had rooms where anything that was foolishly brought in was no big deal, but it could never leave. The red room, AKA AV research.

I had access to an AV research lab for a while for my job. Getting in and out was like the intro to Get Smart.

Dinglenutz · May 14, 2021

Flopsweat said:
I had access to an AV research lab for a while for my job. Getting in and out was like the intro to Get Smart.

It's the tech equivalent of what they should have done in Wuhan ...

Flopsweat · May 14, 2021

ma96782 said:
And just like THAT.

DarkSide, We Hardly Knew Ya: Ransomware Gang Behind Pipeline Hack 'Quits' the Business

Less than 24 hours after President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. would seek to disrupt the operations of those responsible for the Colonial Pipeline attack, the gang in question seems to be ducking for cover—and claims it will shut down its criminal operation, at least for now.

gizmodo.com

Aloha, Mark

The timing is encouraging. If this is an Alpha move by POTUS, good for him. 'Bout time.

ma96782 · May 14, 2021

Dinglenutz said:
It's the tech equivalent of what they should have done in Wuhan ...

Oh "come on man". The CCP said that they co-operated FULLY with the WHO's Investigation Team.

Aloha, Mark

ma96782 · May 14, 2021

BUT THEN.......
It might have just been ALL a supply crunch?

That was published May 11th.

SO THEN......
Need I say what was reported a few days ago, about the INFLATION NUMBERS?

Aloha, Mark

Ura-Ki · May 14, 2021

Don't get suckered into this being just a hack, all those fuel lines have manual valves and pumps to ensure the uninterrupted flow, exactly FOR this reason!! Any interruption could easieally be brought back mechanically with in just a few hours, mostly involving company personal having to drive/fly to the remote sights and manually over ride the electronic controls on the lines!
This was allowed to happen, part of "The Plan" to destabilize things, right before summer travel season, keep people in their homes sucking the gov. tit!
Plus, Mushigan Gov'ness gave orders to shut off the fuel "just in case" and the fuel companies told her to go pound sand up her Jacksy!

Foreverlost · May 14, 2021

Ura-Ki said:
Don't get suckered into this being just a hack, all those fuel lines have manual valves and pumps to ensure the uninterrupted flow, exactly FOR this reason!! Any interruption could easieally be brought back mechanically with in just a few hours, mostly involving company personal having to drive/fly to the remote sights and manually over ride the electronic controls on the lines!
This was allowed to happen, part of "The Plan" to destabilize things, right before summer travel season, keep people in their homes sucking the gov. tit!
Plus, Mushigan Gov'ness gave orders to shut off the fuel "just in case" and the fuel companies told her to go pound sand up her Jacksy!

Well................sort of???? Yes a small army of instrument techs with cell phones, some help getting pumps running, the fuel would flow.
But..................$$$$ The money?? Those that produced the fuel want paid. Colonial just moves the fuel. The $$$ part means "gotta measure the flow" & "get the #####'s (numbers)to the billing computer". Hack gotta go first. Those that did this for a living know all the steps.

Then there are the contracts between all the parties; producer, mover, seller. Betting big dollars on my end someone has to verify measuring equipment has not been hacked. How far did the ransomware spread?

Sitting here safe; glad this isn't my headache. Back to beer & popcorn...........................

Foreverlost,

papersoldier · May 14, 2021

Ura-Ki said:
Don't get suckered into this being just a hack, all those fuel lines have manual valves and pumps to ensure the uninterrupted flow, exactly FOR this reason!! Any interruption could easieally be brought back mechanically with in just a few hours, mostly involving company personal having to drive/fly to the remote sights and manually over ride the electronic controls on the lines!
This was allowed to happen, part of "The Plan" to destabilize things, right before summer travel season, keep people in their homes sucking the gov. tit!
Plus, Mushigan Gov'ness gave orders to shut off the fuel "just in case" and the fuel companies told her to go pound sand up her Jacksy!

I think you underestimate just how many things are controlled entirely via computer these days.

Ura-Ki · May 14, 2021

papersoldier said:
I think you underestimate just how many things are controlled entirely via computer these days.

Nope, I know exactly how these systems are set up and maintained! It's a matter of strategic importance that these systems have and maintain full manual control!

Ura-Ki · May 14, 2021

One needs to remember, all the these systems were built pre electronic control/ pre computer, and they are required to have and maintain full manual control over these systems! They may have and use electronic controls and computers to aid in efficiency and or to reduce the man power maintained on site/on call, but they are all required to have and maintain full back up manual control, if for no other reason then to allow a component to be serviced or replaced within the system, and they can almost always bypass/re route around any thing! I can explain in surgical detail if you want, but it's not really needed here!

Foreverlost · May 14, 2021

Ura-Ki said:
Nope, I know exactly how these systems are set up and maintained! It's a matter of strategic importance that these systems have and maintain full manual control!

Strategic Importance!!! It would be hard to find many that would disagree. That "maintain full manual control"??? Someone once said; " Wish in one hand and crap in the other, see what you get."

Flopsweat · May 14, 2021

Foreverlost said:
Strategic Importance!!! It would be hard to find many that would disagree. That "maintain full manual control"??? Someone once said; " Wish in one hand and crap in the other, see what you get."

Eh, I'm inclined to believe him. No-BS kinda guy.

Ridge Walker · May 14, 2021

Flopsweat said:
I had access to an AV research lab for a while for my job. Getting in and out was like the intro to Get Smart.

I know it right, your badge opens the doors as you get close. Pretty cool how when you approach work stations that you don't have clearance for what is displayed on the monitor it goes blank until you pass.

How about the ones where they search you with a Metal Detector and give you an escort for the day that even goes into the bathroom with you.

Thats enough of all that lol.

Flopsweat · May 14, 2021

Ridge Walker said:
I know it right, your badge opens the doors as you get close. Pretty cool how when you approach work stations that you don't have clearance for what is displayed on the monitor it goes blank until you pass.

How about the ones where they search you with a Metal Detector and give you an escort for the day that even goes into the bathroom with you.

Thats enough of all that lol.

Fortunately this gig I just do coding in a dev lab. Remote in from home and untangle old stuff, write new stuff. I get to to the fun part and they have other people to worry about where you set your feet and what's in your jacket pocket.

arakboss · Feb 24, 2022

We should not be surprised if Russia unleashes massive cyber attacks in reponses to sanctions. I will be keeping my tank closer to full than empty for the near future.