Jaysu
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- 21.09.20
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The attackers could have obtained data collected in the laboratory on the molecular structure of the coronavirus.
Cybercriminals hacked into the computer systems of Oxford University's Strubi Department of Structural Biology, which conducts research on coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
"We have fixed and isolated the problem and are currently conducting further investigation. The incident did not affect the clinical research conducted by the university, as the Strubi laboratory is not engaged in this area," the university said.
Representatives of the University of Oxford reported the incident to the National Center for Cybersecurity (NCSC) Great Britain.
The cyberattack became known thanks to the head of the company Hold Security Alex Holden (Alex Holden), who discovered the information for sale, stolen in Strubi, and reported it to Forbes. As confirmation of the fact of hacking, the hackers published screenshots of the database and email archive, as well as the interface of the program that controls the operation of laboratory equipment. The images were dated February 13 and 14. The attackers could have obtained data collected in the laboratory on the molecular structure of the coronavirus.
According to Holden, the hackers communicated in Portuguese and mentioned that universities in Brazil were also among their victims. During the attacks, the criminals resorted to the use of extortionate software.
Earlier, Russian and North Korean hackers were accused of attacking COVID-19 researchers. But while some attacks on pharmaceutical companies have been linked to international espionage, the hacking of Oxford University's systems was allegedly the work of financially motivated criminals. According to Holden, the criminals privately sold the stolen data of their victims to various APT groups.
Cybercriminals hacked into the computer systems of Oxford University's Strubi Department of Structural Biology, which conducts research on coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
"We have fixed and isolated the problem and are currently conducting further investigation. The incident did not affect the clinical research conducted by the university, as the Strubi laboratory is not engaged in this area," the university said.
Representatives of the University of Oxford reported the incident to the National Center for Cybersecurity (NCSC) Great Britain.
The cyberattack became known thanks to the head of the company Hold Security Alex Holden (Alex Holden), who discovered the information for sale, stolen in Strubi, and reported it to Forbes. As confirmation of the fact of hacking, the hackers published screenshots of the database and email archive, as well as the interface of the program that controls the operation of laboratory equipment. The images were dated February 13 and 14. The attackers could have obtained data collected in the laboratory on the molecular structure of the coronavirus.
According to Holden, the hackers communicated in Portuguese and mentioned that universities in Brazil were also among their victims. During the attacks, the criminals resorted to the use of extortionate software.
Earlier, Russian and North Korean hackers were accused of attacking COVID-19 researchers. But while some attacks on pharmaceutical companies have been linked to international espionage, the hacking of Oxford University's systems was allegedly the work of financially motivated criminals. According to Holden, the criminals privately sold the stolen data of their victims to various APT groups.