Chinese hackers are now targeting Indian vaccine makers SII and Bharat Biotech: Report

Chinese hackers are now targeting Indian vaccine makers SII and Bharat Biotech: Report

India and China have two of the largest vaccine manufacturing capabilities in the world.

A Reuters report claimed that a Chinese state-backed hacking group has targeted India's top vaccine makers Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India (SII). Goldman Sachs-backed Cyfirma, based in Singapore and Tokyo, told the news agency that Chinese hacking group APT10—also known as Stone Panda—had identified gaps and vulnerabilities in the IT infrastructure systems (through a number of public servers running weak web servers) with a "motivation to exfiltrate intellectual property and gain competitive advantage".

India and China have two of the largest vaccine manufacturing capabilities in the world. India's SII is currently manufacturing AstraZeneca and Novavax vaccines, and has helped the country distribute vaccines across the world.

Cyfirma Chief Executive Kumar Ritesh, formerly a top cyber official with British foreign intelligence agency MI6, told Reuters: "They have spoken about weak web application, they are also talking about weak content-management system. It is quite alarming."

Chinese hackers are now targeting Indian vaccine makers SII and Bharat Biotech: Report
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Earlier, reports from US intelligence agencies had claimed that a power-cut in India’s financial capital Mumbai in 2020 was a result of Chinese hackers sneaking in malware into the electrical grids. The incident, which happened amid a months-long standoff along the LAC in Ladakh, was reported to have been a warning from China to India not to provoke it any further.

Responding to the US company’s study, the Maharashtra government confirmed that the massive power outage was an act of sabotage, with Energy Minister Nitin Raut citing “preliminary information” to make the claim.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson had responded to the claims, calling them “speculation and fabrication” ."As a staunch defender of cyber security, China firmly opposes and cracks down on all forms of cyber attacks,” spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in response to a question from Reuters.

“Speculation and fabrication have no role to play on the issue of cyber attacks, as it is very difficult to trace the origin of a cyber attack. It is highly irresponsible to accuse a particular party when there is no sufficient evidence around. China is firmly opposed to such irresponsible and ill-intentioned practice,” he added.

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