Security News > 2020 > June > Cybercriminals unleash diverse wave of attacks on COVID-19 vaccine researchers
As multiple companies inch closer to a potentially life-saving vaccine for the coronavirus, cybercriminals with varying motives have increased attacks.
During a webinar with CISO MAG earlier this month, Bryan Ware, assistant director for the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said the attacks being led by the Chinese government were "Hindering vaccine development in the US," and the government body released its own memo to vaccine researchers urging them to beef up defenses.
"We've already equaled or exceeded last year's numbers in terms of attacks. I only think it's going to get worse. It's such a hot area. If you think about it, the amount of research and development money that is being spent by the pharmaceutical industry right now is probably at an all-time high to rush to a vaccine or a treatment or some type of therapy that will lessen the impacts of COVID-19. Literally lives are on the line," Pierson said.
Jenkins previously worked for the UK government and said there are "Battalions of people" working on hacking COVID-19 research institutions and vaccine researchers.
A number of cybersecurity experts said the increase in attacks related to COVID-19 research was an indicator that digital security now needed to take a prominent role in how all organizations build.