The U.S. is warning that China is likely launching cyberattacks in an attempt to steal coronavirus data from American research institutions and pharmaceutical companies.
The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI issued the warning in a “public service announcement” on Wednesday, according to CNN. The agencies called it a “significant threat” and said the data being sought by China is likely related to vaccines and treatments under development.
They said healthcare, pharmaceutical and research sectors “working on a COVID-19 response should all be aware they are the prime targets of this activity and take the necessary steps to protect their systems."
A national security official, explaining the thinking behind the warning, told CNN: "We have to be the first ones through the door if we want any of our allies to follow us. If this pandemic can't get our allies in the right place, what's going to?”
Meanwhile, Christopher Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, is quoted in The New York Times as saying: “China’s long history of bad behavior in cyberspace is well documented, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone they are going after the critical organizations involved in the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic,”
The Trump administration also has collected information that Iran has been targeting some of the same facilities, senior administration officials told The Wall Street Journal.
China and Iran have waged cyberattacks against American firms and institutions that are working to find a vaccine, the newspaper said.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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