/Russia is attempting to steal coronavirus vaccine research, U.S., U.K. and Canada claim

Russia is attempting to steal coronavirus vaccine research, U.S., U.K. and Canada claim

LONDON — Hackers from Russia’s intelligence services have been attempting to steal information related to the development of a COVID-19 vaccine from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, officials said Thursday.

The attacks have been carried out by a group called “APT29, also known as “the Dukes” or “Cozy Bear,” which has been been using malware to target various organizations across the three countries, American, Canadian and British intelligence agencies said in a joint statement.

“It is completely unacceptable that the Russian intelligence services are targeting those working to combat the coronavirus pandemic,” British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement. “While others pursue their selfish interests with reckless behavior, the U.K. and its allies are getting on with the hard work of finding a vaccine and protecting global health.”

The group known as APT29 or Cosy Bear is well known in cybersecurity circles, having been responsible, according to U.S. intelligence services, for a slew of attacks against U.S. governmental and political organizations and other prominent groups in recent years.

The group is “almost certainly part of the Russian intelligence services” and throughout this year has targeted government and diplomatic targets, think-tanks and organizations related to energy, according to a statement by the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre, backed by the U.S. National Security Agency and Canada’s Communications Security Establishment

It targeted specific organizations “likely with the intention of stealing information and intellectual property relating to the development and testing of COVID-19 vaccines,” the statement said.

This is a breaking news report. Please check back for updates.

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