The Wall Street Journal reported that a criminal hacker group gained control of the pipeline system, which supplies about 45% of refined petroleum products to 14 East Coast states, by compromising one of the company’s virtual private networks.
October 6, 2026
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Emell D. Adolphus - Engineering News-Record
It took six days for Colonial Pipeline Co.'s 5,500-plus miles of connected refined petroleum supply infrastructure from Houston to New York City, to come back on line after a May 7, 2021 ransomware cyberattack forced the company to shut down operations and pay $4.4 million for restoration.
Mr. Adolphus may be contacted at adolphuse@enr.com