New technologies bring new vulnerabilities as well. While Neuralink plans to connect the human brain to computers using tiny implants, scientists warn that such chips could leave you vulnerable to hackers.
By gaining access to brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), experts say, cyber-attackers can “erase” your skills, read your thoughts and memories. Therefore, it is imperative that developers can create systems that will ensure that no outsider can change their functionality. Perhaps the creators should initially resort to using similar security protocols as in smartphones.
Researchers now say that while Elon Musk's company is working on some really interesting technologies that will allow the human brain to interact with computers, this can have very negative consequences. This kind of chipping can open a window for hackers to invade the thoughts or memories of political officials, military personnel, and other thieves or criminals.
Dr. Sasitharan Balasubramaniam from the Waterford Institute of Technology, stressed that in addition to information damage, such "hacks" can also cause physical damage, because when we talk about the brain - there are too many nuances.
In a new report, researchers have suggested a whole host of attacks that could be carried out. Hackers could intercept data going from BCIs to the brain, which would allow them to collect sensitive data as well, such as logins for email and other systems.
The researchers believe the technology has a bright future, but are urging BCIs to take a layered approach to security when designing their systems, including antivirus software and encryption.
