IBM raises alarm over hackers targeting Covid-19 vaccine distributors

IBM warned on Thursday of hackers targeting companies critical to the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines that ensure the ‘cold chain’ is maintained.

According to Reuters, IBM said this is a sign that digital spies are turning their attention to the complex logistical work involved in distributing the coronavirus vaccine.

The information technology company said in a blog post published on Thursday that it had uncovered “a global phishing campaign” focused on organizations associated with the Covid-19 vaccine “cold chain”.

Some of the vaccines that are close to being approved need the shots to be stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius (-94 F) or below to avoid spoiling before reaching people’s arms.

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency reposted the report, warning members of Operation Warp Speed - the US government’s national vaccine mission - to be alert.

IBM’s cybersecurity said it found hackers using meticulously crafted booby-trapped emails sent in the name of an executive with Haier Biomedical, a Chinese cold chain provider that specializes in vaccine transport and biological sample storage.

The hackers went through “an exceptional amount of effort,” said IBM analyst Claire Zaboeva.

“Whoever put together this campaign was intimately aware of whatever products were involved in the supply chain to deliver a vaccine for a global pandemic,” she said.

IBM said the fake Haier emails were sent to around 10 different organizations but only identified one target by name: the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union, which handles tax and customs issues across the EU.

It is yet unclear who is behind the vaccine supply chain espionage campaign.