Russian hackers have been accused of targeting Covid-19 vaccine researchers

The news: Russian hackers targeted UK, US, and Canadian researchers developing coronavirus vaccines, according to a report from the United Kingdom, American, and Canadian intelligence services.

The hackers: The Russian intelligence hacking group known as “Cozy Bear” or APT29 has been blamed. You might know Cozy from its many previous high profile cyberespionage ventures, most notably hacking the Democratic National Committee in 2016.

The prize: “Throughout 2020, APT29 has targeted various organisations involved in COVID-19 vaccine development in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, highly likely with the intention of stealing information and intellectual property relating to the development and testing of COVID-19 vaccines,” according to the bulletin published by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre today.

Uncertainty: Espionage always increases in times of uncertainty and, if this pandemic has introduced anything to the world, it’s ubiquitous uncertainty. Earlier this year, Vietnamese hackers appeared to have targeted Chinese government ministries to collect data on the then-emerging crisis. And, in May, Chinese government-sponsored hackers were also accused of trying to steal vaccine research, a sign that the global race for a vaccine is not immune from the tectonic geopolitics of 2020.

What were the hackers looking for?: The race for a vaccine has high political stakes, as countries vie to make sure they have access to the shots, including to protect health care workers, doctors, and their militaries. The US Warp Speed program is spending billions to try and guarantee American supplies. Countries are expected to use whatever negotiating chips they have to assure their populations are vaccinated. In Russia’s case, this may include the fruits of espionage.

For the most part, the vaccines are not secret—they’re described in scientific reports and their make-up is known—although details of their manufacture, and supply agreements, could be valuable secrets to steal. The biggest question about the vaccines remains unknown to both scientists and any hackers who target them: will they work? Large studies in volunteers are now underway.

from Computing – MIT Technology Review https://ift.tt/2CE9P3F