A suspected hacker linked to the Chinese state accused of targeting COVID-19 research has been extradited from Italy to the United States.Xu Zewei, 34, appeared in a federal court in Houston after being transferred from Italy over the weekend. According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), he faces a nine-count indictment related to computer intrusions conducted between February 2020 and June 2021.Prosecutors allege Xu was part of a state-backed hacking network linked to China’s intelligence services. Court documents said they acted under the direction of officials from the Shanghai Bureau of the Ministry of State Security and targeted US universities and researchers during the height of the pandemic. They accessed sensitive email accounts belonging to immunologists and virologists working on vaccines, treatments and testing.Xu also played a role in the global cyber campaign called HAFNIUM, which exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server. The operation affected thousands of computers worldwide, including more than 12,000 systems in the US. The hackers reportedly installed tools that allowed them to maintain remote access and extract sensitive data, including information on US policymakers.Xu was arrested in Milan last year at the request of US authorities. Italian police described him as “a dangerous foreign hacker” before handing him over following top court approval. His extradition was carried out with the support of Italian law enforcement agencies.In a separate post onHe added, “This case is a historic victory for our cybersecurity efforts under President Trump, which will bring to justice bad actors who target American infrastructure, no matter where they try to hide.”Xu has been charged with crimes including wire fraud, computer intrusion and identity theft, which carry significant prison sentences if convicted. His co-conspirator, Zhang Yu, remains at large.
