Colonial Pipeline paid Darkside hackers $5 million – CNBC

London (Quantum Commodity Intelligence) - Colonial Pipeline paid a ransom to hackers after the company fell victim to a sweeping cyberattack, according to the US CNBC news channel.

Colonial paid nearly $5 million as a ransom to the cybercriminals, said CNBC, citing an unnamed source.

Earlier on Thursday, President Joe Biden declined to comment when asked if Colonial Pipeline paid the ransom. White House press secretary Jen Pskai told reporters during a briefing that it remains the position of the federal government to not pay ransoms as it may incentivize cybercriminals to launch more attacks.

Last week's attack, carried out by a criminal cybergroup known as DarkSide, forced the company to shut down approximately 5,500 miles of pipeline, leading to a disruption of nearly half of the nation's East Coast fuel supply.

The Colonial Pipeline, which delivers around 45% all road and aviation transport fuel demand to the US East Coast, is expected to return to full capacity over the weekend, alleviating fuel shortages across parts of the country.

The pipeline transports 2.5 million barrels each day, taking refined gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel from the Gulf Coast up to New York Harbor and New York's major airports.