US accuses Chinese hackers of stealing vaccine research
(Baonghean.vn) - AFP on May 12 quoted sources from two newspapers as saying that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the country's cybersecurity experts believe that Chinese hackers are trying to steal research on developing a vaccine against the Corona virus.
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| US cybersecurity agencies warn that Chinese hackers are trying to steal research on developing a Covid-19 vaccine. Photo: AFP |
Accordingly, on May 11, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times reported that the FBI and the US Department of Homeland Security are planning to issue a warning about the activities of Chinese hackers in the context of governments and private companies racing to develop a Covid-19 vaccine.
The hackers are also believed to be targeting information and intellectual property related to Covid-19 treatments and tests.
US officials allege the hackers are linked to the Chinese government, two sources said, adding that a formal warning could come in the next few days.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian rejected the accusations, saying Beijing firmly opposes all cyberattacks. “We are leading the world in Covid-19 treatment and vaccine research. It is unethical to target China with rumors and slander without evidence,” Zhao said.
When asked about this information, US President Donald Trump did not confirm, but said: "What else is new about China? What is new? Tell me. I am not happy with China." The leader added: "We are watching them very closely."
If the US issues a warning, it will add to a string of warnings and information alleging government-backed hackers in Iran, North Korea, Russia and China have engaged in malicious activity related to the pandemic, from pumping out fake news to targeting workers and scientists, AFP reported.
The New York Times said it could be a precursor to official counterattacks approved by US agencies in the field of cyber warfare, including the Pentagon's Cyber Command and the National Security Agency.
Last week, in a joint statement, the UK and the US warned of a rise in cyber attacks on health professionals involved in the coronavirus response by organised crime “often linked to other state actors”.
Britain's National Cyber Security Centre and the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said they had detected large-scale “password spraying” tactics – hackers trying to gain access to accounts through commonly used passwords – targeting agencies and medical research organisations.
