Research institutes in Israel currently trying to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus were targeted by online attacks last week.

Israeli media reported Monday that hundreds of websites in Israel were also shut down due to the cyberattacks, CBN News reports.

There was reportedly no attempt to steal information in the attacks. Instead, they were intended to interrupt the development of a vaccine for COVID-19.

//twitter.com/AmichaiStein1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmichaiStein1 pic.twitter.com/BsHTQrha04

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) May 21, 2020

The Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD) called the attack a "superficial defacing of websites of private bodies in Israel," adding it was done through a single access point.