Yes, a cyberattack occurred on the journal Oncotarget shortly after the publication of a peer-reviewed study on January 3, 2026, which analysed 333 cases of cancer onset or progression following COVID-19 vaccination. The journal’s website became inaccessible, displaying a “bad gateway” error, and the attack has prevented the study from being added to the live journal index. Oncotarget reported the incident to the FBI, alleging a malicious cyberattack aimed at disrupting access to the research. The journal has stated that the attacks began in December 2025 and continued into January 2026, with ongoing investigations into potential suspects, including individuals associated with PubPeer.

• The study, authored by Dr. Wafik El-Deiry of Brown University and Dr. Charlotte Kuperwasser of Tufts University, reviewed 69 peer-reviewed publications from 27 countries and identified patterns of cancer cases temporally linked to vaccination, particularly with mRNA and adenoviral vector platforms.
• The authors emphasized that while the study did not establish causation, it highlighted concerning patterns that warrant urgent further investigation.
• Dr. El-Deiry publicly condemned the incident as a form of medical censorship, stating, “Censorship is alive and well in the U.S. and it has come into medicine in a big, awful way”.
• The FBI has neither confirmed nor denied the existence of a specific investigation into the cyberattack.
• As of January 14, 2026, the study remains inaccessible on the journal’s official website, though the authors have provided alternative links for access.

“Have the FBI confirmed an investigation into this?“

No, the FBI has not confirmed an investigation into the cyberattack on Oncotarget. 

While the journal reported the attack to the FBI and stated it is cooperating with federal law enforcement, the FBI has not publicly acknowledged or confirmed the existence of a specific investigation. Multiple sources note that the FBI has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the matter.