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In the first half of 2021, companies worldwide saw significant cyber attacks targeting industries like manufacturing, technology, and healthcare. The first significant ransomware attack was the Kia Motors attack. Cybercriminals demanded a ransom payment of 20 million U.S. dollars. However, it is unknown if the company paid for it. The computer manufacturer Acer fell victim to a ransomware attack in March 2021. Attackers announced about 50 million U.S. dollars of a ransom demand, and it is undisclosed whether the company has paid it.

The most remarkable cyber incident during the examined period was the Colonial Pipeline attack. The attack caused significant disruptions in the pipeline's digital system, taking it down for several days. It is believed to be the largest in the history of the United States and was recognized as a national security threat. Following this attack, U.S. President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency. The hacker group demanded a ransom payment of 75 bitcoin (4.4 million U.S. dollars). Although Colonial Pipeline paid the ransom, a month later, in June 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice partially recovered it, returning 63.7 bitcoin (2.3 million U.S. dollars) from the attackers.