Russian Hackers Accused of Targeting Covid-19 Vaccine Research
A Russian hacking group known as Cozy Bear faces accusations from UK, US, and Canadian authorities of targeting Covid-19 vaccine developers to steal intellectual property.
UK, US, and Canadian governments jointly accuse Russian hacking group APT29, also known as Cozy Bear, of targeting organizations involved in Covid-19 vaccine development. The hackers use a mix of known security vulnerabilities and custom malware to infiltrate research institutes and steal valuable intellectual property.
Cozy Bear maintains deep ties to Russian intelligence agencies like the SVR and FSB, boasting a history of global espionage dating back to 2008. While the group traditionally focuses on gathering intelligence to inform Russian policy, cybersecurity experts note that this attack on medical research possibly represents a significant shift in their operational strategy.
Authorities do not identify the specific victims of this ongoing hacking campaign. The Kremlin firmly denies any involvement in the attacks, with spokesman Dimitry Peskov stating that Russia has nothing to do with these attempted intrusions.