Expert points out striking details in Russian cyber spies’ attacks on coronavirus research groups | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › Expert points out striking details in Russian cyber spies’ attacks on coronavirus research groups Expert points out striking details in Russian cyber spies’ attacks on coronavirus research groups Published: July 16, 2020 Author: Shannon Roddel ND Experts Michael Chapple Teaching Professor, Academic Director of the Master of Science in Business Analytics Cyber Attack Russian cyber spies are targeting organizations working to develop a coronavirus vaccine in the U.S., U.K. and Canada according to a July 16 warning that detailed activity by Russian hacking group APT29, also known as "the Dukes" and "Cozy Bear." An advisory published by the U.K. National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) detailed Russian hackers’ efforts to target vaccine research and development organizations and stated they “almost certainly operated as part of Russian intelligence services.” It also stated that research had not been hindered. Mike Chapple Cybersecurity and privacy expert Mike Chapple, teaching professor of IT, Analytics, and Operations at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, said "Cozy Bear” is a well-known cybersecurity threat that has been actively attacking targets of the Russian government for at least six years.  “This is the same group believed to be behind the 2016 attack against the Democratic National Committee and more recent attacks against targets in the United States, Norway and The Netherlands,” said Chapple, a former computer scientist with the National Security Agency and former Air Force intelligence officer. Chapple notes there are striking details in this particular string of attacks. “First, the attacks demonstrate that the Russian government has a clear interest in stealing intellectual property from organizations engaged in coronavirus research efforts,” he said. “Second, the international intelligence community is united in their assessment of this threat. The report was issued by the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre, but the contents were endorsed by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security in the United States as well as the Canadian government. Third, the attackers used a wide range of sophisticated techniques to carry out their attacks. They used the same type of social engineering attacks used to target Twitter employees in yesterday’s breach, but also scanned systems at their target organizations for vulnerabilities and used custom-developed malicious software to exploit the vulnerable systems that they discovered.” Fortunately, Chapple points out, the motives of the attackers appear to be limited to stealing information, rather than hindering coronavirus research efforts.  “Firms engaged in COVID-19 research certainly have a lot to lose from a financial perspective,” he said, “but it’s unlikely that these attacks will hinder international research efforts."   Contact: Mike Chapple, mchapple@nd.edu Posted In: Faculty and Staff Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related October 04, 2022 NIH awards $4 million grant to psychologists researching suicide prevention September 09, 2022 Karrie Koesel to testify before Congressional-Executive Commission on China August 18, 2022 Two faculty win NEH grants to research history of red hair, philosophy of revelation August 16, 2022 NSF names Center for Computer-Assisted Synthesis a Phase II Center for Chemical Innovation August 15, 2022 Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., on Russian atrocities against clergy in Ukraine For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn