Infrastructure Woes...

"The time is now to prevent Darkside, and others like them, going from a cottage industry, to a full blown organization. It is time to see if our President is just an empty suit, or if there is anything there, to protect this great nation."   

I guess up here in the north country, we can all be grateful we don't live in the southeast or eastern part of the country - this time. Colonial Pipeline Company, which supplies almost half of the gasoline and jet fuel to the eastern part of the United States, is all but shut down (again) today. Why? Welcome to the 21st century, of ones and zeroes. 

Darkside Ransomware, a criminal enterprise which exists in Mother Russia, is responsible for this cyber attack. Even though Russia has claimed no responsibility for the attack (even though Darkside is an organization which exists within Russia), few of us believe it. We do know this however - the United States got caught a bit flatfooted by this latest ransomware crime. 

Here is the weird thing about this attack. Darkside has told the world, they have no intention of hurting anybody. All they want is the ransom. Once it is paid, they will assist the victim organization, on how to restore their services. (This one is hard to believe) - They even have a "help desk" to walk you though the restoration process. Meanwhile, the price of gas is going up, and the lines at many gas stations in the southeast, are getting longer.

Here is the bottom line. This cyber attack, albeit bad and very disruptive, could have been much, much worse. Like, what if a cyber attack happened on any part of our ancient and frail electric grid? That would be terrible this time of year, and deadly if it happened in the winter time. Or an attack on the stock market, which perturbated many big time traders? Or an attack on our water pipelines, or sewage pipelines? Or a nuclear plant? The list of potential targets for a cyber attack is almost endless.

Now this is mostly for Slo Joe. Your "Infrastructure Bill" is mostly made up of fluff. Things which are NOT infrastructure, even though you are trying hard to change the definition of the term. What we REALLY need in our infrastructure right now, is updating many critical items we depend on, making them more robust and "smart". Otherwise, what is happening with Colonial Pipeline might only be the first act in a long line of disruptive, or maybe even horrific events in our country.

It is time to take off the gloves with these "baddies" who think they can hide behind the former Iron Curtain. They are not immune nor invincible. I would like to see this accidental President we have, first, grow a pair. Tell Putin we hold him partially responsible for this attack, and then inform the cyber criminals that we are not paying them a cent. If oil is not flowing through the pipeline they attacked by tonight at midnight (GMT), everyone responsible will be a "dead man walking". Yes, we do have versions of Jack Ryan on our side.

The time is now to prevent Darkside, and others like them, going from a cottage industry, to a full blown organization. It is time to see if our President is just an empty suit, or if there is anything there, to protect this great nation.