Hackers linked to China are attempting to steal US coronavirus research, according to a joint statement of the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
The authorities said that the hackers are targeting coronavirus-related research, particularly information on vaccines, testing, and treatments.
The FBI is probing “the targeting and compromise of U.S. organizations conducting COVID-19-related research by [People’s Republic of China]-affiliated cyber actors and non-traditional collectors.”
Security officials caught the hackers attempting to “identify and illicitly obtain valuable intellectual property” as well as public health data related to coronavirus research.
“The potential theft of this information jeopardizes the delivery of secure, effective, and efficient treatment options,” the statement read.
With this, the federal agencies called for the enhancement of cybersecurity protocols in organizations involved in coronavirus studies to “prevent surreptitious review or theft of COVID-19-related material.”
The coronavirus which started near the city of Wuhan reportedly hit the US harder than any other country, based on the data about COVID-19 cases and deaths.
Data from Johns Hopkins University reveals that there are over 1.3 million cases and at least 82,389 deaths so far.
Meanwhile, US political leaders and health experts warned that the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on daily life may last long. The measures to curb the virus have put the US economy to a halt. Experts add that easing restrictions could only be safe with a coronavirus vaccine.
However, vaccine development could take a year to 18.
“Biomedical research has long been at the heart of something the Chinese have wanted and something they have engaged in economic espionage to get,” John Demers, assistant attorney general for national security, said during an interview with CNBC.
“It would be crazy to think that right now, the Chinese were not behind some of the cyberactivity we’re seeing targeting U.S. pharmaceutical companies and targeting research institutes around the country that are doing coronavirus research, treatments and vaccines,” Demers said on “The Exchange.”
US-China tension
The tension between Beijing and Washington escalated further due to the coronavirus outbreak. American officials made a complaint about Chinese intellectual property theft. According to the US, this cost the American economy billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs as well as national security issues. However, China asserts that it does not participate in intellectual property theft.
The F-35 in the defense giant Lockheed Martin’s portfolio experienced compromise in its design and electronics data in 2009. Authorities believe that Chinese hackers were behind the web intrusion.
China eventually announced it was creating its own fifth-generation fighter, the stealth Shenyang J-31 jet, which appears similar to the F-35
US President Donald Trump's administration is trying to disrupt Chinese tech firm Huawei, the world’s largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer, as it builds a larger foothold in US partner countries.
Earlier this year, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed hesitation about doing business with Huawei. She warned other countries to not entertain any deal with the company.
In January 2020, the White House and the Chinese government entered the first phase of a trade agreement. However, Trump constantly blames China for the coronavirus and criticizes its handling of the coronavirus crisis.
“It could have been stopped right where it came from,” Trump said in March.
Trump tweeted on Tuesday: “We just made a great Trade Deal, the ink was barely dry, and the World was hit by the Plague from China.”
“100 Trade Deals wouldn’t make up the difference - and all those innocent lives lost!” Trump wrote.
