Latest news with #Hafnium
Straits Times
19-07-2025
- Straits Times
Chinese state-sponsored contract hacker arrested in Italy at US request: DOJ
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The US Department of Justice said a Chinese state-sponsored contract hacker was arrested last week in Italy at the request of Washington. WASHINGTON - The US Department of Justice said on July 8 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 July 8 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 July 8 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 July 8 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. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Mindef, SAF units among those dealing with attack on S'pore's critical information infrastructure Asia How China's growing cyber-hacking capabilities have raised alarm around the world Asia Autogate glitch at Malaysia's major checkpoints causes chaos for S'porean and foreign travellers Singapore A deadly cocktail: Easy access, lax attitudes driving Kpod scourge in S'pore Singapore 'I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died Singapore Who decides when you can't? A guide on planning for end-of-life care Singapore Why hiring more teachers makes sense, even with falling student numbers Singapore Bukit Panjang LRT disruption: Train service resumes after power fault affects 13-station line US 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 US systems to steal additional research." Hafnium targeted over 60,000 US 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
NBC News
09-07-2025
- NBC News
Chinese state-sponsored contract hacker arrested in Italy at U.S. request, DOJ says
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice said on Tuesday that 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 MSFT.O email software vulnerabilities. The Chinese government has previously denied allegations of being involved. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington, said on Tuesday that China opposes all forms of cyber crimes, adding that 'China has neither the need nor the intention to acquire vaccines through so-called theft.' 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 said 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 unauthorized access to protected computers.
New York Post
08-07-2025
- New York Post
China-sponsored hacker stole COVID data from top US universities, labs: feds
A Chinese national hacked into the computers of major US universities and research labs to steal COVID-19 data as part of a government-sponsored cyberattack during the pandemic, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. 'While the world was reeling from a virus that originated in China, the Chinese government plotted to steal US research critical to vaccine development,' FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams said in a statement released Tuesday. Suspect Zewei Xu, 33, infiltrated American research facilities as an agent for China's Ministry of State Security and the Shanghai State Security Bureau to pilfer the information on the virus and vaccines over nearly two years, prosecutors in the District Attorneys Office in the Southern District of Texas said in the release. 3 Federal prosecutors said the alleged Chinese hacker was part of the Hafnium hack identified by Microsft in 2021. Montri – Xu, who was on the run since 2023, was recently nabbed by the FBI and international authorities in Milan, Italy, after getting off a plane from China and is facing extradition to the US, prosecutors said. '[Xu's] landmark arrest by FBI Houston agents in Italy proves that we will scour the ends of the Earth to hold criminal foreign adversaries accountable,' Williams said. According to a newly unsealed indictment, Xu and accused 44-year-old cohort Yu Zhang, who remains on the run, were part of a Chinese-sponsored covert plot to steal US data on COVID-19 research between February 2020 and June 2021. 3 Federal prosecutors in Texas said a Chinese-government sponsored hacker stole US COVID vaccine data. Getty Images The pair were part of a coordinated Chinese cyberattack on various US industries that was identified and exposed by Microsoft in 2021 and is publicly known as 'Hafnium.' In early 2020, Xu and his accomplice allegedly targeted universities in Texas and elsewhere, as well as leading immunologists and virologists who were working on COVID vaccines. On Feb. 19, 2020, he allegedly contacted his Chinese handlers to report that he had compromised the network of one Texas facility. He was told to 'access specific email accounts belonging to virologists and immunologists engaged in COVID-19 research,' prosecutors said. On Feb. 28, 2021, the feds said Xu informed the Shanghai State Security Bureau about his 'successful intrusions' into the school's database and was told to get data on other operations, too. 3 Xu Zewei, 33, was nabbed by the FBI in Italy and charged with hacking into US COVID research databanks. Bloomberg via Getty Images Xu and Zhang were indicted on wire fraud conspiracy and related federal hacking charges in November 2023, with the charges remaining sealed until Xu's arrest in Italy. 'The Southern District of Texas has been waiting years to bring Xu to justice, and that day is nearly at hand,' district US Attorney Nicholas Ganjei said in a statement. 'As this case shows, even if it takes years we will track hackers down and make them answer for their crimes. 'The United States does not forget.'
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Time of India
US arrests Chinese hacker Xu Zewei for stealing COVID-19 research and hacking Microsoft servers
Xu Zewei, a Chinese national, has been apprehended in Italy following a U.S. extradition request for his involvement in hacking activities. He is accused of stealing COVID-19 research from American universities and orchestrating a massive attack on Microsoft Exchange servers. These actions are linked to the Hafnium group, which has ties to the Chinese government. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Chinese hackers stole COVID research and attacked Microsoft servers Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs The U.S. Justice Department confirmed the arrest of Chinese national Xu Zewei , a suspected contract hacker for the Chinese government. Xu was arrested in Italy after the U.S. requested his extradition, according to the report by allegedly worked for a Chinese tech company called Shanghai Powerock Network, which helped China with hacking operations. Xu and another Chinese hacker named Zhang Yu, who is still on the run, were charged with 9 serious hacking crimes in the U.S, as stated by the U.S. says they stole sensitive COVID-19 research from American universities in February 2020, during the early pandemic. They are accused of cyber spying and data theft, which could have given China an edge in vaccine or treatment research, according to the report by and his group also carried out a massive hacking attack on Microsoft Exchange servers in March 2021. The hackers broke into over 60,000 email servers across the U.S., mostly run by small businesses, and stole private emails and contact info, as per the U.S. says the hackers are part of a Chinese hacking group called Hafnium, linked to Beijing. Hafnium later started a new cyberattack campaign called Silk Typhoon, known for targeting large companies and U.S. government agencies, according to the report by Zewei is a Chinese hacker arrested in Italy for stealing U.S. COVID-19 research and hacking Microsoft servers, as per U.S. Justice is a China-linked hacker group accused of major cyberattacks on U.S. companies and government email servers, including Microsoft Exchange.
Economic Times
08-07-2025
- Economic Times
US arrests Chinese hacker Xu Zewei for stealing COVID-19 research and hacking Microsoft servers
Xu Zewei, a Chinese national, has been apprehended in Italy following a U.S. extradition request for his involvement in hacking activities. He is accused of stealing COVID-19 research from American universities and orchestrating a massive attack on Microsoft Exchange servers. These actions are linked to the Hafnium group, which has ties to the Chinese government. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Chinese hackers stole COVID research and attacked Microsoft servers Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs The U.S. Justice Department confirmed the arrest of Chinese national Xu Zewei , a suspected contract hacker for the Chinese government. Xu was arrested in Italy after the U.S. requested his extradition, according to the report by allegedly worked for a Chinese tech company called Shanghai Powerock Network, which helped China with hacking operations. Xu and another Chinese hacker named Zhang Yu, who is still on the run, were charged with 9 serious hacking crimes in the U.S, as stated by the U.S. says they stole sensitive COVID-19 research from American universities in February 2020, during the early pandemic. They are accused of cyber spying and data theft, which could have given China an edge in vaccine or treatment research, according to the report by and his group also carried out a massive hacking attack on Microsoft Exchange servers in March 2021. The hackers broke into over 60,000 email servers across the U.S., mostly run by small businesses, and stole private emails and contact info, as per the U.S. says the hackers are part of a Chinese hacking group called Hafnium, linked to Beijing. Hafnium later started a new cyberattack campaign called Silk Typhoon, known for targeting large companies and U.S. government agencies, according to the report by Zewei is a Chinese hacker arrested in Italy for stealing U.S. COVID-19 research and hacking Microsoft servers, as per U.S. Justice is a China-linked hacker group accused of major cyberattacks on U.S. companies and government email servers, including Microsoft Exchange.
