Chinese Man Charged with Stealing COVID-19 Research

A shocking development in the ongoing saga of intellectual property theft has brought attention to the cybercrime scene once again. A Chinese national, Xu Zewei, has been arrested on suspicion of hacking into several U.S. universities' computer systems to steal COVID-19-related research, authorities announced on Tuesday.

Xu Zewei is charged in a nine-count indictment in the Southern District of Texas for his alleged involvement in computer intrusions between February 2020 and June 2021. Another Chinese national, Zhang Yu, was also charged in the indictment. Xu was arrested on Thursday in Italy and is awaiting extradition to the U.S., while authorities say Zhang remains at large.

According to court documents, Xu and others are accused of targeting and hacking several U.S.-based universities, immunologists, and virologists conducting research into COVID-19 vaccines, treatment, and testing. The hacking is not just a violation of intellectual property rights but an attack on American scientific innovation, as stated by Nicholas J. Ganjei, the Houston-based U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.

Authorities declined to name the universities that had been targeted but said two were located in the Southern District of Texas. Authorities allege that officers of China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) directed Xu and others to conduct the hacking. A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.

According to court documents, Xu and Zhang were part of a group known as HAFNIUM, which targeted over 60,000 U.S. entities, successfully victimizing more than 12,700 in order to steal sensitive information. One of those targeted was a law firm with offices worldwide, including in Washington, D.C.

The charges against Xu include wire fraud, obtaining information by unauthorized access to protected computers, and aggravated identity theft. The wire fraud charges carry sentences of up to 20 years in prison. Tuesday's announcement comes after the Justice Department earlier this month said two Chinese nationals had been charged with spying inside the United States on behalf of Beijing, including by taking photographs of a naval base.

This latest development raises serious concerns about national security and intellectual property rights. As the world continues to grapple with the ongoing pandemic, it is essential that we prioritize the protection of sensitive research and information. The U.S. government's efforts to hold those responsible accountable for their actions will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the international community.