“These actors have been observed attempting to identify and illicitly obtain valuable intellectual property.”
As researchers are racing to develop treatments and vaccines for the coronavirus, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is warning of a new threat to organizations conducting such research.
In a public service announcement, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said, “The FBI is investigating the targeting and compromise of U. S. organizations conducting COVID-19-related research by [People’s Republic of China] affiliated cyber actors and non-traditional collectors.”
The statement continued, “These actors have been observed attempting to identify and illicitly obtain valuable intellectual property (IP) and public health data related to vaccines, treatments, and testing from networks and personnel affiliated with COVID-19-related research.”
“The potential theft of this information jeopardizes the delivery of secure, effective, and efficient treatment options,” it added.
