Enlarge / Test doses of another potential SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. (credit: MLADEN ANTONOV / Getty Images)

Hackers backed by the Russian state are targeting pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions in the UK, US, and Canada that are working on potential COVID-19 vaccines, British intelligence officials have warned.

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, working with Canada’s Communications Security Establishment, attributed the attacks to hacking group APT29, also known as “Cozy Bear,” which it alleged was “almost certainly” working for Russian intelligence services. The findings have been endorsed by the US National Security Agency.

Dominic Raab, UK foreign secretary, said it is “completely unacceptable that the Russian intelligence services are targeting those working to combat the coronavirus pandemic.”