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Infected with
a computer virus
A scientist at the University of Reading
has become the first person in the world to
be infected by a computer virus.
Dr Mark Gasson, from the School of
Systems Engineering, contaminated a
computer chip which had been inserted
into his hand as part of research into
human enhancement and the potential
risks of implantable devices.
These results could have huge implications
for implantable computing technologies
used medically to improve health,
such as heart pacemakers and cochlear
implants, and as new applications are
found to enhance healthy humans.
Dr Gasson says that as the technology
behind these implants develops, they
become more vulnerable to computer
viruses.
“Our research shows that implantable
technology has developed to the point
where implants are capable of communicating,
storing and manipulating data,"
he said.
“They are essentially mini
computers. This means that, like mainstream
computers, they can be infected
by viruses and the technology will need
to keep pace with this so that implants,
including medical devices, can be safely
used in the future.”
A high-end Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) chip was implanted
into Dr Gasson’s left hand last year. Less
sophisticated RFID technology is used in
shop security tags to prevent theft and to
identify missing pets.
The chip has allowed him to enter his
university building through secure access
gates to and to activate his mobile phone. It
has also enabled him to be tracked and
profiled. Once infected, the chip corrupted
the main system used to communicate with
it. Should other devices have been
connected to the system, the virus would
have been passed on.
Dr Gasson said: “By infecting my own
implant with a computer virus we have
demonstrated how advanced these technologies
are becoming and also had a
glimpse at the problems of tomorrow.
“Much like people with medical
implants, after a year of having the implant, I very much feel that it is part
of
my body. While it is exciting to be the
first person to become infected by a
computer virus in this way, I found it a
surprisingly violating experience because
the implant is so intimately connected to
me but the situation is potentially out of
my control.
“I believe it is necessary to acknowledge
that our next evolutionary step may well
mean that we all become part machine as
we look to enhance ourselves. Indeed we
may find that there are significant social
pressures to have implantable technologies,
either because it becomes as much of
a social norm as say mobile phones, or
because we'll be disadvantaged if we do
not. However we must be mindful of the
new threats this step brings.”
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph
he admitted that to he didn’t think it
currently possible “to exploit medical
devices such as pacemakers” with
computer viruses, “but we are very much
on the cusp of it being possible”.
● Listen to the BBC interview with Ray Kurzweil – an American scientist who
talks about the future of humans with
embedded technology.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00730m8
Date
of upload: 15th Aug 2010
