Security officials from Canada, UK and the US are now claiming that a Russian cyber group is targeting core organizations that are involved in developing a vaccine for Covid-19.
The problematic hacking group is identified as APT29, known as “The Dukes” or “Cozy Bear” according to CNN.
According to the UK National Cyber Security Center (NCSC), the Russian hacking group has made purposeful attacks on the different organizations that are researching vaccines in the three countries.
In its press release, NCSC explained that the ultimate objective of these targeted efforts is to steal vital information that would be required in the development of a vaccine for Covid-19.
Not only developing the vaccine for a global pandemic significantly boost Russia’s standings in the international stage, but it would also serve as a great propaganda material for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This is not the first time that Cozy Bear has been identified as a threat to national security. For instance, it has been cited as one of the two groups that were involved in the attacking the servers of the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 US Presidential election.
However, it is the first time that the notorious group has been singled out as being related to cyberattack efforts related to Covid-19 and the development of its vaccine.
In recent months, security and information agencies have warned both government agencies and outside research organizations and think tanks to be aware of cyberattacks from the outside. In April, some media agencies such as CNN warned of rising attempts of online attacks of these organizations.
These cyberattack attempts did not discriminate, targeting all kinds of facilities ranging from government agencies to pharmaceutical companies and hospitals.
CNN reports that the Department of Health and Human Services have had to fend off an increased number of attacks online, which are believed to have been attempted by China or Russia. HHS oversees the Center for Disease Control, the main organization that handles the pandemic.
While there has not been any conclusive evidence due to its extremely secretive nature, the NCSC believes that all evidence indicates that APT29 is working in tandem with the Russian intelligence community.
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