Online Public Relations Thoughts

The CEO of Colonial Pipeline is going before Congress to explain why he paid a ransom to internet attackers.  It is likely to be an unpleasant session and tough testimony.  The company wasn't ready for ransomware and when it tied up its operations, the company folded quickly and passed 75 bitcoin to the extortionists worth $4.4 million.  The explanation at the time was that Colonial needed to get its pipeline working again to avoid fuel shortages in Mid-Atlantic states and Southeast.  There was panic buying and service stations ran short of gas.  All this will be in the hearing but senators are likely to hone in on Colonial's lack of systems to counter ransomware.  It is a blackeye for the corporation's reputation and a PR disaster.  A roasting of the CEO will serve as a warning to other executives to get their companies ready -- or else.