Pfizer did not immediately respond to Information Security Media Group s request for comment.
In addition to the report of Pfizer being targeted, South Korea s National Intelligence Service claims to have foiled attempts by North Korea to hack into South Korean firms developing coronavirus vaccines, Reuters reports.
Seeking a Profit?
North Korea has been accused of turning to an army of hackers to fill its cash-strapped coffers amid international sanctions that ban most international trade with it, Reuters reports. So, some health experts speculate that he country s hackers appear more interested in selling the stolen data than using it to develop a homegrown vaccine.
Get Permission
The U.S. Treasury s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is alerting financial institutions about the potential for fraud, ransomware attacks or similar types of criminal activity related to COVID-19 vaccine research and distribution organizations.
FinCEN reports the fraudulent acts include targeting vaccine researchers with ransomware, promising consumers early access to a COVID-19 vaccine for an extra fee and peddling fake cures.
In the alert, the agency also provides instructions for filing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) regarding any unusual activity related to COVID-19 vaccines and their distribution. The agency says filing a SAR is crucial to identifying and stopping fraud and cybercrime and is part of the Bank Secrecy Act compliance requirements by financial institutions.
The U.S. Treasury. (Sealy J. via Wikipedia/CC)
Network intrusions at the U.S. Commerce Department, the U.S. Treasury, FireEye and more all appear to be linked to subverted software updates for a network monitoring product called Orion, made by SolarWinds.
On Sunday, the U.S. Commerce Department confirmed it had been targeted by hackers, and the U.S. Treasury has also reportedly been struck. On Monday, new victims were added to the list: the Department of Homeland Security, State Department and National Institutes of Health, The Washington Post reports.
Reuters first reported the incidents, with the Post suggesting that a Russian hacking group known as Cozy Bear, aka APT29, is the source.
The U.S. Treasury. (Sealy J. via Wikipedia/CC)
Network intrusions at the U.S. Commerce Department, the U.S. Treasury, FireEye and more all appear to be linked to subverted software updates for a network monitoring product called Orion, made by SolarWinds.
On Sunday, the U.S. Commerce Department confirmed it had been targeted by hackers, and the U.S. Treasury has also reportedly been struck. On Monday, new victims were added to the list: the Department of Homeland Security, State Department and National Institutes of Health, The Washington Post reports.
Reuters first reported the incidents, with the Post suggesting that a Russian hacking group known as Cozy Bear, aka APT29, is the source.
The U.S. Treasury. (Sealy J. via Wikipedia/CC)
Network intrusions at the U.S. Commerce Department, the U.S. Treasury, FireEye and more all appear to be linked to subverted software updates for a network monitoring product called Orion, made by SolarWinds.
On Sunday, the U.S. Commerce Department confirmed it had been targeted by hackers, and the U.S. Treasury has also reportedly been struck. On Monday, new victims were added to the list: the Department of Homeland Security, State Department and National Institutes of Health, The Washington Post reports.
Reuters first reported the incidents, with the Post suggesting that a Russian hacking group known as Cozy Bear, aka APT29, is the source.