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So, supposedly, Colonial paid the ransom "within hours after the attack". And, supposedly, the attack didn't even hit any ICS, just the payment infrastructure (

So, supposedly, Colonial paid the ransom "within hours after the attack". And, supposedly, the attack didn't even hit any ICS, just the payment infrastructure ( https://www.zdnet.com/article/colonial-pipeline-ransomware-attack-everything-you-need-to-know/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/colonial-pipeline-ransomware-a... ). Why are there still gas shortages 6 days later? Not a rhetorical question at all. To me, the idea that the infrastructure we rely on is controlled by middle managers with no sense of urgency and no grasp of their domain looks like the real fridge horror story here. On the other hand, I have learnt better than to trust everything I read in the press; thus the supposedlies. Either way, "the decryption tool is slow" is not an excuse to not deliver essential supplies.

mgolawala 5y ago
You do not need actual disruptions in supply to create a shortage. The threat of a disruption or a shortage for such a critical commodity can create a situation that it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy (short term). That is what can often create bank runs and created the "great toilet paper shortage of 2020".
- generationP 5y ago
  But the pipeline has been closed: https://abc11.com/business/theres-plenty-of-gas-in-the-us-the-problem-is-getting-it-to-nc/10621763/ https://abc11.com/business/theres-plenty-of-gas-in-the-us-th... And the toilet paper shortage was not purely panic-driven. People did shit at work before the pandemic, and that part of demand switched to a different supply chain. The panic-induced bullwhip was probably stronger than the original demand spike, but the whole thing wasn't just memed into existence.
  - hoppyhoppy2 5y ago
    The pipeline was shut down as a preventive measure (we're being told) just in case the attackers had made their way into the control systems. Trucking of gas has been increased to compensate for the closure of the pipeline, and there was emergency legislation passed in Congress to lift regulations that would have prevented these higher levels of trucking. The gas supply has been just fine here in the Northeast; the issues I've heard about have been in the South and Southeast due to panic buying (in areas of the country that shouldn't have been negatively affected by the closure of the TX->NY pipeline).
    - generationP 5y ago
      Preventive measures shouldn't be creating third-world-level shortages in basic supplies; those things are dangerous themselves. I'm not sure where the Northeast ends for you, but DC seems to have had serious shortages as late as 2 days ago: https://twitter.com/GasBuddyGuy/status/1392467605898907652 https://twitter.com/GasBuddyGuy/status/1392467605898907652
nikanj 5y ago
All you need for gas shortages is the rumor of gas shortages. Remember how we ran out of TP last year, for absolutely no reason whatsoever?
- generationP 5y ago
  Just answered this at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27148622 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27148622
- Aperocky 5y ago
  On the other hand, a pipeline not running at all is another solid reason.
TheHypnotist 5y ago
The population created the gas shortage, even where there was no threat of a gas shortage.

mgolawala 5y ago

You do not need actual disruptions in supply to create a shortage. The threat of a disruption or a shortage for such a critical commodity can create a situation that it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy (short term). That is what can often create bank runs and created the "great toilet paper shortage of 2020".

generationP 5y ago
But the pipeline has been closed: https://abc11.com/business/theres-plenty-of-gas-in-the-us-the-problem-is-getting-it-to-nc/10621763/ https://abc11.com/business/theres-plenty-of-gas-in-the-us-th... And the toilet paper shortage was not purely panic-driven. People did shit at work before the pandemic, and that part of demand switched to a different supply chain. The panic-induced bullwhip was probably stronger than the original demand spike, but the whole thing wasn't just memed into existence.
- hoppyhoppy2 5y ago
  The pipeline was shut down as a preventive measure (we're being told) just in case the attackers had made their way into the control systems. Trucking of gas has been increased to compensate for the closure of the pipeline, and there was emergency legislation passed in Congress to lift regulations that would have prevented these higher levels of trucking. The gas supply has been just fine here in the Northeast; the issues I've heard about have been in the South and Southeast due to panic buying (in areas of the country that shouldn't have been negatively affected by the closure of the TX->NY pipeline).
  - generationP 5y ago
    Preventive measures shouldn't be creating third-world-level shortages in basic supplies; those things are dangerous themselves. I'm not sure where the Northeast ends for you, but DC seems to have had serious shortages as late as 2 days ago: https://twitter.com/GasBuddyGuy/status/1392467605898907652 https://twitter.com/GasBuddyGuy/status/1392467605898907652

nikanj 5y ago

All you need for gas shortages is the rumor of gas shortages. Remember how we ran out of TP last year, for absolutely no reason whatsoever?

generationP 5y ago
Just answered this at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27148622 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27148622
Aperocky 5y ago
On the other hand, a pipeline not running at all is another solid reason.

TheHypnotist 5y ago

The population created the gas shortage, even where there was no threat of a gas shortage.