Chinese state-sponsored contract hacker arrested in Italy at US request, DOJ says
FILE PHOTO: The seal of the U.S. Justice Department is seen on the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room before a news conference with the Attorney General in Washington, January 24, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File photo
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Justice said on Tuesday a Chinese state-sponsored contract hacker was arrested last week in Italy at the request of Washington, but the arrested man claimed he is a victim of mistaken identity.
Xu Zewei, 33, was arrested on July 3, the Justice Department said, adding a nine-count indictment was unsealed on Tuesday in the Southern District of Texas alleging the involvement of that individual and a co-defendant in computer intrusions between February 2020 and June 2021.
Xu was arrested in Milan, Italy, and will face extradition proceedings, the DOJ said in a statement.
It alleged China's ministry of state security had directed theft of COVID-19 research and the exploitation of Microsoft email software vulnerabilities.
The Chinese government has denied allegations of being involved. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Xu's lawyer said on Tuesday that he is a victim of mistaken identity, that his surname is quite common in China and that his mobile phone had been stolen in 2020.
The 33-year-old IT manager at a Shanghai company appeared on Tuesday before an appeals court in Milan, which will decide whether to send him to the United States. The man was arrested last week after he arrived at Milan's Malpensa airport for a holiday in Italy with his wife.
U.S. authorities allege that he was part of a team of hackers who tried to access a COVID-19 vaccine being developed by the University of Texas in 2020.
The DOJ also says that in 2021, he was part of a cyber-espionage group known as Hafnium, which has alleged ties to the Chinese government and which "exploited zero-day vulnerabilities in U.S. systems to steal additional research."
Hafnium targeted over 60,000 U.S. entities, according to the DOJ.
The charges listed on the arrest warrant were wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and unauthorised access to protected computers. REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AsiaOne
39 minutes ago
- AsiaOne
Preliminary report in Air India crash expected to be released by Friday, sources say, Asia News
A preliminary report into the crash of an Air India jetliner that killed 260 people in June is expected to be released by Friday (July 11), a step that could provide early details into the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade, three sources said on Tuesday. While the report from Indian investigators could be made public on Friday, the sources with knowledge of the matter cautioned that plans could change and there was no clarity on how much information would be available in the document, which comes about 30 days after the June 12 tragedy. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to media. The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which started losing height after reaching an altitude of 650 feet, crashed moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and the rest on the ground. The investigation into the Air India flight 171 crash is focusing on the movement of the engine fuel control switches, following an analysis of the Boeing 787's flight and voice data recorders, aviation industry publication the Air Current reported on Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the investigation. The people said the available information on the black boxes could not rule in or out improper, inadvertent or intentional actions that preceded or followed the apparent loss of thrust before the aircraft crashed, the Air Current reported. Most air crashes are caused by multiple factors. The investigation is focusing at least partly on engine thrust, Reuters reported last month. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the probe under international rules, did not respond immediately to a request for comment outside normal business hours. Earlier on Tuesday, India's ANI news reported that investigators from the AAIB submitted the preliminary report on the crash to the civil aviation ministry, citing sources. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. The probe has been dogged by questions over lack of information, after investigators took about two weeks to download flight recorder data after the crash. The Indian government held only one press conference on the incident, and no questions were taken. However, India reversed course on an earlier decision reported by Reuters to prevent a UN aviation investigator from joining the probe, two senior sources said. A specialist from the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was granted observer status, following an unusual request by the agency to offer its support. ICAO declined to comment, adding in a statement that any public discussion of "cooperative arrangements", would require authorisation by the state. The crash is challenging the Tata Group's ambitious campaign to restore Air India's reputation and revamp its fleet, after taking the carrier over from the government in 2022. India is banking on a boom in aviation to support wider development goals, with New Delhi saying it wants India to be a job-creating global aviation hub along the lines of Dubai, which currently handles much of the country's international traffic. A panel of Indian lawmakers will review safety in the country's civil aviation sector and has invited several industry and government officials to answer questions on Wednesday, with topics set to include the recent plane crash. [[nid:719732]]
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Ukrainian attack on beach in Russia's Kursk kills three, injures seven, regional governor says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A Ukrainian drone attack on a beach in the Russian city of Kursk killed three people, including a Russian serviceman engaged in rescue operations, and injured seven, acting regional Governor Alexander Khinshtein said early on Wednesday. Khinshtein, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said the attack had been carried out deliberately in an area frequented by families in the region that borders Ukraine. Five of the seven injured, including a 5-year-old child, were in a serious condition in hospital. He said one of the dead was a member of Russia's National Guard who had been trying to evacuate people from the scene. "He had arrived at the beach with his comrades after people began reporting about the drone attack," Khinshtein said. "The senior sergeant had begun to evacuate people when a second explosion occurred. Unfortunately, he did not survive." Reuters could not independently verify the account and there was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials. Khinshtein also said a Ukrainian drone had attacked a hospital in the town of Rylsk, closer to the Ukrainian border than the city of Kursk, injuring two people, blowing out windows and setting a roof ablaze. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Why Japan and South Korea are on different paths in the latest US trade salvo Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10 Singapore Keep citizens at the centre of public service, Chan Chun Sing tells civil servants Singapore Man arrested for allegedly throwing bottle at SMRT bus, injuring passenger Asia As Trump plays tariffs hard ball, Asean has little choice but to play on Singapore Chuan Grove GLS site snags top bid of $703.6m from Sing Holdings-Sunway joint venture Asia PM Anwar called out by his own lawmakers as Malaysia's judicial crisis heats up Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of targeting civilians in the course of the war, now well into its fourth year, something that both sides deny. Ukrainian forces staged a large incursion into the Kursk region nearly a year ago. The Kremlin has said all Kyiv's forces have since been ejected from the region, but Ukrainian officials say their troops are still carrying out operations there. REUTERS
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
FBI launches probes into former FBI director, ex-CIA director, Fox News reports
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: The Federal Bureau of Investigation seal is seen at FBI headquarters in Washington, U.S. June 14, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo WASHINGTON - The FBI launched criminal probes into former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI director James Comey, Fox News Digital reported on Tuesday, citing sources. These probes are over alleged wrongdoing related to past government investigations about claims of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections in which President Donald Trump defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the news report said. The FBI, the CIA and the Justice Department had no immediate comment. Reuters has not independently verified the probes. The scope of the criminal investigations into Brennan and Comey was unclear, the report added. A criminal investigation does not necessarily result in charges. Fox said its sources were from the Justice Department but did not specify the number of sources. A CIA review released last week found flaws in the production of a U.S. intelligence assessment that Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to sway the 2016 U.S. presidential vote to Trump, but it did not contest that conclusion. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Why Japan and South Korea are on different paths in the latest US trade salvo Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10 Singapore Keep citizens at the centre of public service, Chan Chun Sing tells civil servants Singapore Man arrested for allegedly throwing bottle at SMRT bus, injuring passenger Asia As Trump plays tariffs hard ball, Asean has little choice but to play on Singapore Chuan Grove GLS site snags top bid of $703.6m from Sing Holdings-Sunway joint venture Asia PM Anwar called out by his own lawmakers as Malaysia's judicial crisis heats up Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue
