COVID-19 Vaccine Cyber Attacks Happen 'Every Minute Daily': Here's How Serious the Exploits Are

Cyber attacks are also targetting the most severe problem and issue of the year, 2020's COVID-19, particularly its vaccine development. This is despitethe jab's utmost need and urgency to be the key and solution to end this pandemic. Hackers and exploiters are now focusing on the health industry, especially on the most crucial issue of the coronavirus that has plagued the entire Earth.

The race to procure a 100 percent effective virus has faced several setbacks, including unexpected side effects, wrong data, legal disputes, etc. Still, it did not expect an attack from cyber hackers. Cyber exploiters show no mercy to the companies currently creating immunity for COVID-19 despite the importance and urgency of the matter.

According to ZDNet, cyber attacks against COVID-19 vaccine companies and the health industry have been apparent since the lockdown's start nine months ago, in March. The hackers have not identified the specific reason for the crime as it exploited different focuses on creating the vaccine.

Additionally, the crime these hackers are committing is not considered an "act of war,"; instead, only a lesser tier criminal offense upheld by the state. Although the cruciality of COVID-19's vaccine in the present era as cases are still on the rise, these offenses are said to be merely under the jurisdiction of cybercrimes.

Johnson & Johnson's Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) said that the organizations, companies, and individuals that work towards stopping the coronavirus experience these cyberattacks "every single minute" of their daily work. The severity and race to procure a vaccine should have no disruptions to finish the vaccine immediately optimistically.

COVID-19 Hacking: Laws Make it Illegal but not a 'War Crime'

ZDNet shared that the Geneva Convention has agreed that the international attacks on health pretenses are severe but would not be considered a "war crime" among two nations, serving as the victim and criminal. The recent cyberattacks put Russia, North Korea, China, and Iran to have allowed state-sponsored attacks on COVID-19 vaccines.

Previously, hackers were in the process of stealing the "formula" of the COVID-19 vaccine but were unable to do so. These types of attacks are putting the healthcare industry, particularly the pharmaceutical company's progression, in finishing the vaccine in time of their supposed promise.

Additionally, different threats were imposed on health agencies and companies with cyber crimes such as ransomware, phishing, information stealing, and more.

Cyber Attacks on COVID-19: Phishing on Vaccine Cold Chain, Most Recent

According to Wired, the most recent attack shifted its focus from stealing the formulation of the COVID-19 vaccines and stealing personal information. Instead, the new episodes focus on "phishing" the soon-to-be shipped vaccines that require a unique "Cold Chain" for its transport to preserve its efficacy and condition.

IBM recognized the attack and reported it to authorities to stop the crimes against the vaccine's journey to those who ordered it and in need.

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Isaiah Alonzo