Ransomware as a Weapon – Targeting Critical Infrastructure

Once a lucrative criminal tactic, ransomware is now weaponized. In May 2021, the Colonial Pipeline shutdown due to a ransomware attack disrupted fuel supply across the U.S. East Coast—demonstrating how cyberattacks can impact daily life and national security. Hospitals, water systems, and municipal networks are increasingly targeted through ransomware-as-a-service models, often with suspected links to authoritarian regimes. Critical infrastructure operators face a choice: pay hefty ransoms or endure extensive downtime and public safety risks. Governments are responding by classifying ransomware attacks as acts of cyberwar and using sanctions or military-grade cyber countermeasures. As a result, defending infrastructure against this hidden threat has become a top priority for national cybersecurity strategies worldwide.

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