Russia is hacking virus vaccine trials, US, UK, Canada say

A file photo of a subject receives a shot in the first-stage safety study clinical trial of a potential vaccine for Covid-19 at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle. Britain, the US and Canada accused Russia of trying to steal information from researchers seeking a Covid-19 vaccine. — AP

WASHINGTON: Western governments on July 16 accused hackers believed to be part of Russian intelligence of trying to steal valuable private information about a coronavirus vaccine, calling out the Kremlin in an unusually detailed public warning to scientists and medical companies.

The alleged culprit is a familiar foe. Intelligence agencies in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada say the hacking group APT29, also known as Cozy Bear, is attacking academic and pharmaceutical research institutions involved in Covid-19 vaccine development. The same group was implicated in the hacking of Democratic email accounts during the 2016 US presidential election.