Continued from Flux Trend’s annual 6 Trends of 2018…
Natural World
Bio Malware
As researchers explore the prospect of storing data using DNA (yes, really), scientists have already created a security threat to this futuristic concept. Bio hackers from the University of Washington have found a way of encoding ‘malicious software’ onto DNA stands. The malware is not intended to harm its human host but instead becomes a means of corrupting gene sequencing software and take control of the underlying computer. A real concern as we embrace new forms of biometrics.
“This means when you’re looking at the security of computational biology systems, you’re not only thinking about the network connectivity and the USB drive, but also the information stored in the DNA they’re sequencing. It’s about considering a different class of threat”. Tadayoshi Kohno – computer science professor.
By Dion Chang and Khumo Theko
—
Image credit: Cyber Cryptic (https://www.cybercryptic.com/a-movie-and-a-computer-virus-on-dna/