Microsoft: Russian and North Korean hackers attacked companies developing a vaccine from coronavirus

Specialists of Microsoft discovered the attacks of Russian and North Korean hackers for seven companies that are engaged in the creation of vaccines and coronavirus medicines. This was reported on the website of Microsoft.

“Among the goals [attacks] are leading pharmaceutical companies and vaccines in Canada, France, India, South Korea and the United States,” the company said. The actors of attacks emanating from Russia are called the “strontium”, from North Korea - “zinc” and “cerium”.

Microsoft reported that the strontium hackers tried to steal the data of the vaccine researchers using a password selecting and hacking accounts. The object called “Zinc” tried to enter the system, sending messages with fabricated job descriptions. "Ceria" masked letters to the requests of representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO). “Most of these attacks were blocked by means of protection built into our products,” the company noted.

The company also said that the President of Microsoft Brad Smith at the Paris Peace Forum intends to call the government of the countries to take measures to comply with the law protecting medical institutions. The company said that the law should be applied not only when the threat comes from government institutions, but even when it comes from criminal groups, which governments allow to exist and even facilitate their activities.