Scientists use DNA to Hack a Computer

[armoredmouse]

Pulled from https://www.technologyreview.com/s/608596/scientists-hack-a-computer-using-dna/amp/

 

and

http://thehackernews.com/2017/08/hacking-computer-with-dna.html?m=1

 

University of Washington scientists code a computer virus into a strand of DNA. when this strand is sequenced and the results are read by a computer, the computer ends up running the malicious computer code which gave complete control of the system over to a third party. This was an isolated incident but shows how criminals could use this to corrupt evidence data bases, hospitals, private labs, etc. 

[vanished]

Because so many criminals have access to DNA sequencing and advanced computer programming skills /s

Interesting, but probably not much of a threat yet

 

Also, please revise this to align with the posting guidelines:

 

[captain_to_fire]

3 minutes ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

Because so many criminals have access to DNA sequencing and advanced computer programming skills /s

Interesting, but probably not much of a threat yet

Cybercriminals should then learn genetics and coding together. They have to learn the central dogma of molecular biology as well as PCR and more together with penetration testing. 

8 minutes ago, armoredmouse said:

University of Washington scientists code a computer virus into a strand of DNA. when this strand is sequenced and the results are read by a computer, the computer ends up running the malicious computer code which gave complete control of the system over to a third party. This was an isolated incident but shows how criminals could use this to corrupt evidence data bases, hospitals, private labs, etc. 

This might be the new class of ransomware. But then again, this attack can take hours to execute in my opinion. They have to isolate the DNA and store it in a buffer then either add restriction enzymes or use CRISPR, then use reverse transcription to turn DNA into a single stranded RNA. 

 

But then that would just me speculating. 

[8uhbbhu8]

Well.... All I can think of now is genetically enhanced computers lol.

[sazrocks]

inb4 someone add this to their own DNA and becomes a walking computer virus.

[LHJKO]

next level of cs go pro cheating 

[PeachyUwUSenpai]

This is dumb there just storing the virus the in dna then reading it it's not different than putting a virus on a usb key

[LHJKO]

30 minutes ago, sazrocks said:

inb4 someone add this to their own DNA and becomes a walking computer virus.

that would be awesome you could just store the unlock code to your personal devices in your dna just touch your computer or your phone and it knows its you 

[ScratchCat]

9 minutes ago, Vernw3 said:

that would be awesome you could just store the unlock code to your personal devices in your dna just touch your computer or your phone and it knows its you 

*Touch phone ,then wait hours for it to sequence your DNA, THEN unlock.

Plus it would have your DNA on it already from handing so all a criminal would need would be a swab to unlock your phone 

[Nicnac]

I don't get how prepared dna can actually execute commands on an analyzer machine...

[mr moose]

Its a great study/field if your interested, but wouldn't genetic storage or cellular manipulation be a better thing to research?  Might have more beneficial outcomes than finding a new way to inject code into a computer. 

[PeachyUwUSenpai]

21 minutes ago, Nicnac said:

I don't get how prepared dna can actually execute commands on an analyzer machine...

it cant they just stored it in dna then they read it then ran it on the computer essentially they copied the file from the usb and then ran it

[Nicnac]

52 minutes ago, Alaradia said:

it cant they just stored it in dna then they read it then ran it on the computer essentially they copied the file from the usb and then ran it

Ok so just as a means of Data Transfer. I thought said code was somehow able to execute itself lol. 

[Doobeedoo]

That's quite interesting. But shouldn't it be the other way

[Tech_Dreamer]

Reminded me of this scene from The Matrix