Case Study

Colonial Pipeline Cyber Incident (estimated time: 2 hours)

This reading represents the sophistication of cyber attackers' abilities to infiltrate a critical infrastructure such as the Colonial Pipeline. The effects of this attack and others like it impact everyone.

U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2021, May 18).  Colonial pipeline cyberattack highlights need for better federal and private-sector preparedness (infographic). https://www.gao.gov/blog/colonial-pipeline-cyberattack-highlights-need-better-federal-and-private-sector-preparedness-infographic

A 'Worst Nightmare' Cyberattack: The Untold Story of the SolarWinds Hack (estimated time: 2 hours)

The SolarWinds attack exemplifies the human errors and weak security policies that created an opportunity for attacks like the one that breached the SolarWinds system, which impacted thousands of organizations across the United States.

Temple-Raston, D. (2021, April 16). A 'worst nightmare' cyberattack: The untold story of the SolarWinds hack.  NPR. https://www.npr.org/2021/04/16/985439655/a-worst-nightmare-cyberattack-the-untold-story-of-the-solarwinds-hack

Thomas Matusiewicz Guns Down Ex-daughter-in-law and Friend in Courthouse amid Custody Battle (estimated time: 2 hours)

Christine Belford was cyberstalked by the Matusiewicz family for years. She was eventually killed by her ex-father-in-law. The significance of this case stems from three members of this family receiving life sentences for their cyberstalking actions that led to Belford’s murder.

Dziemianowicz, J. (2023, December 15).  Thomas Matusiewicz guns down ex-daughter-in-law and friend in courthouse amid custody battle. Oxygen. https://www.oxygen.com/fatal-family-feuds/crime-news/what-happened-to-christine-belfords-killer-thomas-matusiewicz