With the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine in full force, and with Moderna having just published encouraging human trial results, news that Russian spies have been targeting vaccine developers in three countries is enough to make pharma investors extremely nervous.

Reports on Thursday emerged that Russian spies are targeting vaccine developers in the United States, Canada and the UK.

Security agencies from all three countries issued a joint statement saying that while espionage had not disrupted work on a vaccine, Russian hackers have been trying to steal information about vaccine efforts.

More specifically, the agencies are blaming the attacks on a Russian intelligence hacking group called “APT29” (aka “Cozy Bear” or “the Dukes”), which was also linked to the 2016 attacks on the Democratic National Committee.

“Throughout 2020, APT29 has targeted various organisations involved in COVID-19 vaccine development in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, highly likely with the intention of stealing information and intellectual property relating to the development and testing of COVID-19 vaccines,” agencies said in a warning.

The agencies said the attacks were also directed at the energy industry.

According to the UK’s NCSC security agency, the group “almost certainly operate as part of Russian intelligence services”–an assessment that is supported by the U.S. Department for Homeland Security (DHS), and other Canadian and U.S. agencies.

“APT29’s campaign of malicious activity is ongoing, predominantly against government, diplomatic, think-tank, healthcare and energy targets to steal valuable intellectual property,” the NCSC said…CLICK for complete article

Andrew Ruhland and the team at Integrated Wealth Management have updated their very popular, free online Financial Readiness Assessment tool for 2020. This easy-to-use survey tool provides instant feedback with a Financial Readiness score and specific advice on how to improve. In addition, you will receive a customized report with all your responses included for future reference. Whether you a employ professional investment advisor or prefer a DIY approach, this assessment tool is definitely worth 5 or 10 minutes of your time. ~ Ed.

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Any time the world is thrown off balance by a major, sustained event or incident, it’s an opportunity for some of our most creative minds for a burst of new and refined criminal activity. The global pandemic presents an atmosphere ripe for criminal creativity, and the United States is now drowning in new colorful types of fraud.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as of May 28th, its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received as many complaints in the first five months of this year as it did for all 12 months of 2019.

Three-quarters of those complaints are frauds and swindles, and the “sheer volume” is “a challenge” for the FBI.

From the sale of counterfeit personal protective equipment (PPE) claiming to ward off coronavirus and fake cures to fraudulent unemployment insurance claims, stimulus check scams and even plots to take advantage of children engaging in online schooling, the vultures have come out of the pandemic woodwork in full force.

Real estate scams are just one target–but of the high-dollar variety.

With the real estate industry in lockdown for months, many elements of the closing process that were normally required to be done in person for security reasons were accomplished digitally, opening up magnificent opportunities for IT-savvy criminals to hijack emails between agents, title agencies and buyers, convincing buyers to send their down payments to wrong parties. CLICK for complete article

Maybe last week’s pause refreshed the market a little.

There’s a positive tone on Wall Street early Tuesday following Monday’s late recovery. Crude continues to advance, and that seems to be providing the fuel. With the exception of Japan, overseas indices all advanced overnight and some of the “horsemen of risk” like bonds and gold retreated.

So what’s going on here? There’s a line of thought that strength in crude reflects hopes for growing energy demand as some U.S. states start to reopen. California is the latest, though it’s just taking a few steps like allowing curbside pickup at…Click for full article.