The statement offered no further details on the identities of the targets or the hackers. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Coronavirus-related research and data have emerged as a key intelligence priority for hackers of all stripes. Last week Reuters reported that Iran-linked cyberspies had targeted staff at US drugmaker Gilead Sciences Inc., whose antiviral drug remdesivir is the only treatment so far proven to help COVID-19 patients. In March and April, Reuters reported on advanced hackers' attempts to break into the World Health Organization as the pandemic spread across the globe.

Source: bd News24 May 13, 2020 14:48 UTC