Thursday, July 16, 2020

UK, US and Canada allege Russian cyberattacks on Covid-19 research centers

(Noodles)

...Russian hacking group called APT29, which also goes by the name "the Dukes" or "Cozy Bear."

An advisory published by the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)...:

"APT29's campaign of malicious activity is ongoing, predominantly against government, diplomatic, think tank, healthcare and energy targets to steal valuable intellectual property."...
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[Now, that is DIFFERENT than attempting to ALTER the data. Russia is not an inventive society. China is not inventive. We do invent! Of course they are going to attempt to steal what they cannot make themselves. This is a health pandemic where all countries have the same need. The distinction, however, is meaningful. It would be a malicious ATTACK to hack with intent to compromise the U.S. ability to respond to the pandemic within its borders, not to steal from us.]


Cozy Bear is one of two hacking groups linked to Russian intelligence that is believed to have accessed the Democratic National Committee's internal systems in the lead-up to the 2016 US election...
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In April, CNN also reported on a growing wave of cyberattacks on US government agencies and medical institutions leading the pandemic response by nation states and criminal groups.
Hospitals, research laboratories, health care providers and pharmaceutical companies have all been hit, officials said at the time.
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The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- has also been struck by a surge of daily strikes.
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"APT29 has a long history of targeting governmental, diplomatic, think tank, healthcare and energy organizations for intelligence...-NSA spokesperson.
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The report concluded that: "APT29 is likely to continue to target organizations involved in COVID-19 vaccine research and development, as they seek to answer additional intelligence questions relating to the pandemic."