A Russian-backed hacker group has tried to steal COVID-19-related vaccine research in Canada, the U.K. and the U.S., according to intelligence agencies in all three countries. The Communications Security Establishment (CSE), responsible for Canada's foreign signals intelligence, said APT29 — also known as Cozy Bear and the Dukes — is behind the malicious activity. The group "almost certainly operates as part of Russian intelligence services," the CSE said in a statement released Thursday morning in co-ordination with its international counterparts — an allegation the Kremlin immediately denied. In response to CBC's inquiries, CSE spokesperson Evan Koronewski did point to a recent threat bulletin that reported a Canadian biopharmaceutical company was compromised by a foreign cyber threat actor back in mid-April. The head of Britain's National Cyber Security Centre, Paul Chichester, said the allies "condemn these despicable attacks against those doing vital work to combat the coronavirus pandemic."

Source: CBC News July 16, 2020 13:15 UTC