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computer hacking has proven a persistent problem for drugmakers and authorities in their efforts to produce a coronavirus vaccine.
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Now, software giant IBM has warned hackers have targeted computers critical to the distribution of vaccines.
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IBM said in a block post Thursday it had uncovered a global fishing campaign.
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It's focused on organizations associated with so called cold chain of vaccine distribution.
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Building a secure cold chain is critical to the success of a global vaccine campaign.
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It's the process needed to keep vaccine doses and extremely cold temperatures as they travel from manufacturers to people's arms.
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For instance, the vaccine developed by Pfizer and beyond tech needs to be kept at minus 70 degrees Celsius.
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IBM said it had detected an advanced group of hackers working to gather information about different features off the cold chain.
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They used booby trapped emails sent in the name of an executive with hair by a medical hair is a Chinese cold chain provider that specializes in vaccine transport and sample storage.
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IBM said the hackers went through an exceptional amount of effort with their research and efforts to seem convincing.
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It believes the bogus emails went to around 10 different organizations, including the European Commission.
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It's not clear who was behind the cyber attack.
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Reuters has previously reported that cybersecurity experts have accused hackers linked to countries like North Korea, Russia and China of trying to steal information about the virus and potential treatments.
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IBM said on this occasion there was no shortage of potential suspects.