Italy extradites alleged Chinese cyber-espionage suspect to US
Summary
Italy has sent a Chinese hacker to the United States, where he is accused of stealing COVID-19 vaccine research. US prosecutors say the man, Xu Zewei, targeted universities and other groups during cyberattacks tied to China’s government.Key Facts
- Italy arrested Xu Zewei in Milan in July for suspected cyberattacks on COVID-19 research groups.
- Italy extradited Xu to the US to face charges related to hacking and stealing information.
- Xu allegedly worked for Shanghai Powerock Network and targeted institutions including a Texas university and a law firm in Washington, DC.
- The cyberattacks are linked to a China state-sponsored campaign called “Hafnium” that exploited email software weaknesses.
- Xu faces nine criminal charges, like wire fraud and conspiracy to access protected computers without permission.
- If found guilty, Xu could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison per major charge.
- US officials emphasized their commitment to stopping hackers who steal from US businesses and schools.
- The Chinese government has denied involvement in hacking and called such accusations false.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.