Italy Extradites ‘dangerous Foreign Hacker’ From China Wanted By Us Authorities

A Chinese nationalist sought by U.S. authorities connected hacking charges, including nan alleged theft of COVID-19 aesculapian research, has been extradited from Italy to nan United States.

Italian constabulary confirmed nan handover connected Monday, pursuing earlier reports.

Xu Zewei was apprehended successful Milan past July astatine nan petition of U.S. officials.

He faces accusations of ligament fraud and aggravated personality theft for his alleged engagement successful machine piracy activities that reportedly occurred betwixt February 2020 and June 2021.

Italian constabulary characterized Xu arsenic "a vulnerable overseas hacker," stating he was transferred to nan U.S. to reply charges of criminal conspiracy, unauthorized entree to machine systems, machine fraud, and personality theft.

The U.S. Justice Department confirmed nan extradition connected Monday, asserting that tribunal documents allege Xu hacked U.S. universities and researchers focused connected COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and testing.

The section further claims he reported to supervising officers nether China's Ministry of State Security, which allegedly directed nan hacking.

John Marck, acting U.S. Attorney for nan Southern District of Texas, stated, "Today, Xu Zewei will guidelines successful a national courtroom to reply for crimes that struck astatine nan bosom of American subject and security."

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson connected Monday voiced guidance to nan U.S. "fabricating charges done governmental manipulation," urging Italy to "respect facts and law, instantly correct its mistake" and debar "becoming an accomplice of nan U.S."

Xu's lawyer antecedently maintained his customer was a unfortunate of mistaken identity. The Justice Department besides alleges Xu was portion of nan Hafnium cyber-espionage group successful 2021, which infiltrated thousands of computers globally, including successful nan U.S.