The IT systems of two Indian vaccine makers Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India have been targeted by Chinese hackers. Hackers targeted the vulnerabilities and gaps in their supply chain software and IT infrastructure.
No doubt, both India and China have sold Coronavirus shots to many countries. More than 60% of all vaccines have been produced and sold in the world by India only.
As per Goldman Sachs-backed Cyfirma, this hacking group in China has targeted the vulnerabilities and gaps in supply chain software and IT infrastructure of Bharat Biotech and the Serum Institute of India.
The Cyfirma Chief Executive Kumar Ritesh said ‘The real motivation here is actually exfiltrating intellectual property and getting competitive advantage over Indian pharmaceutical companies”.
Chinese hackers are targeting AstraZeneca vaccine maker (SII). The Serum Institute of India has been making vaccines for various countries and it will start bulk manufacturing of Novavax shots soon.
There is no comment from foreign ministry of China, SII and Bharat Biotech. The CERT said that this matter is handed over to S.S Sarma (Operation director).
Sarma told Reuters CERT was a “legal agency and we can’t confirm this thing to media”.
As per the statement of Cyfirma, CERT authorities were informed and the threat had been acknowledged by them.
“They checked and they came back,” Cyfirma said. “Our technical analysis and evaluation verified the threats and attacks.”
Ritesh, whose company monitors the hacking campaigns and follow activities of cyber criminals said, ‘it was not yet clear what vaccine-related information APT10 may have accessed from the Indian companies’.
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