US EditionChinese National Indicted in COVID-Era Hacking Scheme Extradited to Texas
Zewei faces a nine-count indictment tied to a campaign that compromised more than 12,700 U.S. organizations, officials said.
- Chinese national Zewei appeared before a federal judge in Houston on Monday after being extradited from Italy to face a nine-count indictment for his role in a PRC-sponsored HAFNIUM computer intrusion campaign targeting American companies.
- Prosecutors allege Zewei and accomplice Zhang Yu targeted U.S. universities beginning in February 2020, stealing COVID-19 research for the Shanghai State Security Bureau as contractors to obscure PRC involvement in cyber operations.
- The HAFNIUM campaign exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server, and the FBI Cyber Division reported the intrusion compromised more than 12,700 U.S. organizations, striking at American scientific innovation.
- Acting U.S. Attorney John Marck stated Zewei is answering for crimes that "struck at the heart of American science and security," and he faces decades in prison if convicted on multiple counts.
- Co-Defendant Zhang Yu remains at large as the FBI Houston Field Office continues its investigation; anyone with information regarding Yu's whereabouts is asked to contact the bureau by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.
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FBI extradites Chinese hacker accused of stealing COVID-19 research – Democratic Accent
A Chinese hacker accused of stealing COVID-19 research from U.S. institutions in a massive cyberattack has been extradited to American soil. FBI Director Kash Patel said the case involving Xu Zewei is a “historic win for our cybersecurity efforts under President Trump, bringing bad actors who target American infrastructure to justice no matter where they try to hide.” Patel said Xu, a Chinese national and accused state-sponsored hacker, is “al…
Chinese national indicted in COVID-era hacking scheme, arrested in Italy, extradited to Texas
He faces a nine-count indictment for his role in a People’s Republic of China HAFNIUM computer intrusion campaign targeting U.S. companies, which also compromised thousands of computers worldwide.
FBI says Chinese hacker behind cyber intrusion targeting US COVID-19 research, extradited from Italy
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Patel said: “The FBI and our great partners have arrested Xu Zewei - a PRC national and state-sponsored hacker - allegedly responsible for a massive cyber intrusion campaign in 2020 and 2021 stealing COVID-19 research from American institutions.”
Silk Typhoon Hacker Extradited to U.S. from Italy
Chinese authorities-linked hacker Xu Zewei, accused of playing a central role in the notorious Silk Typhoon (HAFNIUM) cyber campaign, has been extradited from Italy to the United States, marking a significant development in ongoing efforts to combat state-sponsored cyber espionage. Xu, 34, a Chinese national, appeared before a U.S. District Court in Houston following his extradition over the weekend. He faces a nine-count indictment tied to a se…
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