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The groups that launched the assault on several pharmaceutical organizations are working for important governments. Specifically, reports show that three entities working for the governments of North Korea and Russia have launched cyber attacks against several organizations involved in researching treatments and a vaccine against the novel coronavirus in several countries, including France, Korea. South and United States. the giant Microsoft Corp reported Friday, quoted by Reuters and DPA.
According to the software giant, a Russian hacker group called “Fancy Bear” and two North Korean groups called “Zinc” and “Cerium” are involved in recent attempts to intrude on the networks of seven pharmaceutical companies and research institutions in Canada, France. , India, South Korea and the United States.
Most of the targets are “manufacturers who had COVID-19 vaccines at various stages of clinical trials,” Tom Burt, Microsoft’s vice president of security, said in a blog post Friday. Burt hasn’t named any of the companies involved.
In most cases, intrusion attempts have failed, but some have been successful, Microsoft adds, without further details.
They represent themselves as representatives of the World Health Organization
Hackers use both so-called brute force attacks (to guess the username and password) and spear-phishing tactics (a series of emails designed to get the user to react and take action).
One of the North Korean groups sent baits via email using “COVID-19 themes”, presenting themselves as “representatives of the World Health Organization” (WHO).
The pharmaceutical companies targeted in the latest attacks are based in Canada, France, India, South Korea and the United States, Microsoft said.
The United States accused China and Russia in July of attempting to break into vaccine manufacturers’ systems.
The field of health, the “favorite” target of hackers
Microsoft says the health sector has long been a favorite target of cyber attacks due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Cyber attack attempts have targeted the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Spain, Thailand and the United States.
Microsoft’s announcement is part of the latest information on attempts by some states to hack research into medical efforts to fight the pandemic.
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