US Homeland Security Dept. Announces New Cybersecurity Rules for Pipelines, Statement Says

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on 20 July unveiled a second round of new regulations for pipelines and liquefied natural gas facilities in the wake of the ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline.

"Today, in response to the ongoing cybersecurity threat to pipeline systems, DHS’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the issuance of a second Security Directive that requires owners and operators of TSA-designated critical pipelines that transport hazardous liquids and natural gas to implement a number of urgently needed protections against cyber intrusions," DHS said in a statement.

The cybercriminals responsible for the Kaseya ransomware attack demanded $70 million to unlock the systems, but the company returned to full service Monday morning claiming to not have paid the ransom.

Colonial Pipeline, however, paid hackers a $4.4 million ransom in Bitcoin to lift the attackers' stranglehold on the company. The FBI claimed that they were able to recover 63.7 of the 75 bitcoins through a seize warrant on the address to which they were sent.