US Blamed China For Starting COVID-19, Now They Accuse Them Of Hacking Its Vaccine Research

After blaming China for creating COVID-19 in a lab, US Federal Bureau of Investigation and cyber security experts now believe Chinese hackers are trying to steal research on developing a vaccine against coronavirus.

Reuters

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are planning to release a warning about the Chinese hacking as governments and private firms race to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, according to the reports in Wall Street Journal and New York Times.

The hackers are also targeting information and intellectual property on treatments and testing for COVID-19, the report said.

US officials alleged that the hackers are working on the behest of the Chinese government and are looking to steal the work being done by the States' researchers on developing the COVID-19 vaccine.

Representational Image/AFP

In Beijing Foreign Affairs ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian rejected the allegation, saying China firmly opposes all cyber attacks.

"We are leading the world in COVID-19 treatment and vaccine research. It is immoral to target China with rumors and slanders in the absence of any evidence," Zhao said as per AFP.

The warning comes after various reports accusing government-backed hackers in Iran, North Korea, Russia and China of malicious activity related to the pandemic, from pumping out false news to targeting workers and scientists.

Representational Image/AFP

The New York Times said it could be a prelude to officially-sanctioned counterattacks by US agencies involved in cyber warfare, including the Pentagon's Cyber Command and the National Security Agency.

Last week in a joint message Britain and the United States warned of a rise in cyber attacks against health professionals involved in the coronavirus response by organised criminals "often linked with other state actors.