Home » Business » Covid, IBM: “Hacking groups have targeted companies that distribute vaccines”

Covid, IBM: “Hacking groups have targeted companies that distribute vaccines”

03 December 2020 13:31

The American company in the IT sector raises the alarm: “Criminals are about to hit the so-called ‘cold chain’, necessary to get the doses”

“Whoever put this campaign together – says IBM – knows very well any product involved in the supply chain of a vaccine in a global pandemic”.


The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency re-released the report, warning members of Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. government’s national vaccination mission, to stay alert. Understanding how to build a safe cold chain is key to distributing vaccines developed by the likes of Pfizer and BioNTech because vaccine bottles must be stored at minus 70 degrees to prevent them from deteriorating.

IBM’s cybersecurity unit said it has detected an advanced group of hackers working to gather information on different aspects of the cold chain, using meticulously crafted emails sent on behalf of an executive at Haier Biomedical, a Chinese supplier of cold chain specialized in the transport of vaccines and conservation of biological samples.


These cybercriminals have made “an exceptional effort,” said IBM analyst Claire Zaboeva. The hackers researched the correct make, model and price of various refrigeration units.

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