The U.S. Government Warns China May Be Trying to Hack Vaccine Research

May 13, 2020 Topic: Security Region: Americas Blog Brand: Techland Tags: VaccineHealthScienceGovernmentChina

The U.S. Government Warns China May Be Trying to Hack Vaccine Research

The document does not get specific about where such attempted intrusions have taken place, how many there have been, or whether they have successfully obtained information—only that they are happening.

Two U.S. government agencies issued a warning Wednesday that hackers affiliated with the Chinese government may be targeting coronavirus vaccine and treatment efforts in the United States.

A public service announcement issued by the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), was sent out in order to raise awareness of the threat to COVID-19-related research.

The FBI is investigating the targeting and compromise of U.S. organizations conducting COVID-19-related research by [Peoples Republic of China]-affiliated cyber actors and non-traditional collectors, the note says. These actors have been observed attempting to identify and illicitly obtain valuable intellectual property (IP) and public health data related to vaccines, treatments, and testing from networks and personnel affiliated with COVID-19-related research.

The agencies go on to urge all organizations conducting research in these areas to maintain dedicated cybersecurity and insider threat practices to prevent surreptitious review or theft of COVID-19-related material.

The document does not get specific about where such attempted intrusions have taken place, how many there have been, or whether they have successfully obtained information.

Among the recommendations from the FBI and CISA, in addition to patching systems for critical vulnerabilities and scanning web applications for unauthorized access, is to assume that press attention affiliating your organization with COVID-19 related research will lead to increased interest and cyber activity.

Efforts by labs, pharmaceutical companies and other entities to develop vaccines and other treatments, both inside and outside the United States, are frequently covered by the news media, although what's been reported about such efforts and their potential for success is very much incomplete.

Meanwhile, a report Wednesday by Reuters stated that hackers associated with Iran have targeted the drug company Gilead Sciences. According to the report, a phishing email was sent last month to a top executive with the company, seeking to compromise the executives password. Gilead is the company behind  Remdesivir, the drug that has shown promise as a coronavirus treatment.

An Israeli cybersecurity expert quoted in the story characterized the attempt as part of an effort by an Iranian group to compromise email accounts of staff at the company using messages that impersonated journalists.

While the subjection of Russian intrusion related to the 2016 presidential election, including the efforts of hackers, quickly became a subject of political controversy, there's a good chance the reported Chinese intrusion will as well.

Stephen Silver, a technology writer for The National Interest, is a journalist, essayist and film critic, who is also a contributor to Philly Voice, Philadelphia Weekly, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Living Life Fearless, Backstage magazine, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @StephenSilver.

Image: Reuters