A Human with a Computer Virus - You better believe it!!!

[Khayr]

Scientist says he’s first human with a computer virus

By Christopher Null

Let the hysteria begin: Computer viruses have apparently made the leap from PC to person, BBC News reports.

 

Mind you, this was all intentional. British scientist Mark Gasson of the University of Reading introduced a computer virus into an RFID chip (similar to the chips implanted in pets to identify them if they go missing) and then implanted the infected chip into his own hand.

 

In its uninfected state, Gasson's chip lets him pass through secured doorways and turn on his cell phone, so it has practical real-world capabilities.

 

An infected chip could pass malicious code on to chip scanners as, say, the bearer passes through a security door. The virus could then spread to other systems in the network, depending on the complexity and cleverness of its programming.

 

Right now this is just a proof of concept, but it’s a sobering one in a world where "touchless" networking systems like RFID are becoming more and more commonplace, while the security of these systems has been largely ignored.

 

Recently issued passports, which include an RFID chip now by default, have already been subject to extensive hacking attempts — and numerous hacking successes. Some people even suggest whacking your passport with a hammer to disable the RFID chip inside. (We don't endorse this, however.)

 

What happens when you have an actual RFID implant? BBC News notes that these chips are becoming popular receptacles for medical information, so if a person is unconscious, medical responders can still determine if someone has a critical allergy or a rare condition that a hospital might need to be aware of. What happens if a virus scrambles or even reverses this information?

 

The issue of viruses moving from computer to human may not be the nightmare that Hollywood makes it out to be — but the threat is becoming more real than we might like to believe

This sounds real scary. I saw this in movies but didn't know who close to reality this was. Chips being implanted into people. Reminds of that Ethan Hawke movie (i think it was Gattacka) and that new Jude laws movie wherein people's body parts are taken for collection of debts.

 

It all starts off with the premise of - assisting the sick (obtain info. on patient allergies, histories etc.) then we are lead to the envitable spiral.

[Geel_jire]

This is not as scary as it sounds it is pretty useless.

 

the virus is not interacting with the human body.

the body is just a 'dumb pipe' ... this would be the same thing as carring a flash drive in your pocket that has a virus in it in this case his arm is the pocket.

 

This is not technically impressive in any way.

last year I was reading about wirelessly disabling/alterig the operation of pacemakers inside someones chest remotely now that is impressive.

 

Infecting of RFID chips is understandable but implanting it into his hand makes no difference either way .. it sounds like a gimmick to get funding for 'meh' research project

[Nin-Yaaban]

Hope its not contagious

[Abwaan]

There goes reading university Cybernetics Department trying anything in order to show their capability in this Computer Science.