Chinese Man Charged with Stealing COVID-19 Research from US Colleges

A shocking turn of events has unfolded in the world of cybersecurity and global espionage, as authorities announced the arrest of a Chinese national on suspicion of hacking into several U.S. universities' computer systems to steal COVID-19-related research. Xu Zewei, a 47-year-old Chinese citizen, was taken into custody on Thursday in Italy and is currently awaiting extradition to the United States.

Xu's alleged involvement in computer intrusions dates back to February 2020, with authorities accusing him of targeting and hacking several U.S.-based universities, immunologists, and virologists conducting research into COVID-19 vaccines, treatment, and testing. The hacking scheme, which is believed to have been orchestrated by China's Ministry of State Security (MSS), resulted in the unauthorized access of sensitive information from over 60,000 U.S. entities.

"The hacking of these American universities is not just a violation of intellectual property rights. It's an attack on American scientific innovation," said Nicholas J. Ganjei, the Houston-based U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, at a news conference. Authorities declined to name the specific universities that were targeted but confirmed that two of them are located in the Southern District of Texas.

According to court documents, Xu and another Chinese national, Zhang Yu, are accused of working together as part of a group known as HAFNIUM, which targeted over 12,700 U.S. entities 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. Authorities allege that Zhang remains at large, while Xu's extradition to the United States is currently pending.

This latest development comes on the heels of a recent announcement from the Justice Department, which revealed that two Chinese nationals had been charged with spying inside the United States on behalf of Beijing, including by taking photographs of a naval base. The increasing tensions between the U.S. and China over espionage and cybercrime have raised concerns about the national security implications of such activities.

The arrest of Xu Zewei and Zhang Yu serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threats posed by state-sponsored hacking and espionage. As the world grapples with the complexities of global cybersecurity, it is essential that law enforcement agencies and governments work together to prevent such incidents and bring perpetrators to justice.