Italy Extradites Chinese National Suspected of Cyber Espionage to the United States

Italian Authorities Extradite Chinese Hacker Wanted in US

An Italian court has extradited a 34-year-old Chinese national, Xu Zewei, to the United States on suspicion of conducting cyberattacks against universities and institutions engaged in COVID-19 research. The suspect was arrested in Milan last July and is accused of targeting thousands of computers as part of a state-sponsored cyber-espionage campaign.

According to US prosecutors, Xu allegedly exploited cybersecurity flaws in email software to target institutions, including a university in southern Texas and a law firm with offices worldwide. He is also linked to China’s Ministry of State Security while employed at the Shanghai Powerock Network.

Xu appeared in the US District Court in Houston, Texas, on Monday to face nine criminal counts, including wire fraud and conspiracy to obtain information by unauthorized access to protected computers. The charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The Italian National Police stated that Xu was handed over to the US authorities following his arrest. The Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, has not commented on the extradition. Xu’s lawyers have also declined to comment at this time.

Source: Al Jazeera