U.S. Cybersecurity Firm Says Beijing-Linked Hackers Target Vatican Ahead of Talks
By Reuters, Wire Service Content July 29, 2020, at 2:31 a.m.
By Cate Cadell
BEIJING (Reuters) - Hackers linked to the Chinese government have infiltrated Vatican computer networks, including the Roman Catholic Church’s Hong Kong-based representative, a U.S. firm that tracks state-backed cyber attacks said on Wednesday .
It said the attacks began in May. The Vatican and Beijing were expected to engage in talks this year over the renewal of a landmark 2018 deal that stabilised relations between China and the Church.
U.S. cybersecurity firm Recorded Future said in the report that the attacks targeted the Vatican and the Catholic diocese of Hong Kong, including the head of the Hong Kong Study Mission, who is seen as Pope Francis’ de facto representative to China.
