Italy extradites Chinese hacker to US for COVID-related cyberattacks

Italy has extradited Xu Zewei, a 34-year-old Chinese hacker, to the United States. Xu is accused of hacking into universities to steal vaccine research during the COVID-19 pandemic. His arrest occurred in Milan last July, and he was described by Italian authorities as a "dangerous foreign hacker." The extradition was confirmed by the Italian National Police in a statement on Monday.

According to US prosecutors, Xu was part of a state-sponsored cyber-espionage campaign named "Hafnium," which targeted thousands of computers through vulnerabilities in email software. The US Department of Justice stated that Xu's targets included a university in southern Texas and a law firm with global offices. He faces nine criminal counts, including wire fraud and conspiracy to access protected computers without authorization.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A Eisenberg emphasized the US commitment to pursuing hackers who threaten cybersecurity, stating, "I commend the prosecutors and investigators who have worked hard and sought justice for years in this investigation." Xu's legal representation in both Italy and the US has not yet commented on the extradition.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington has previously denied allegations of hacking, labeling them as "groundless accusations." If convicted, Xu could face up to 20 years in prison for each of the most serious charges against him.