New Delhi:
Hackers can use genomic data vulnerabilities using the next generation of DNA Sequencing (NGS) technology, warns an investigation on Thursday and insists on the need to secure it.
The powerful sequencing tool NGS is used for the development of customized medicines, diagnostics of cancer, tracking of infectious diseases and gene research.
Researchers from the University of Portsmouth, UK, have expressed concern about how the tool can be used for data breaches, privacy violations and even future biothreats by hackers.
Although the steps are essential for generating accurate results, they also open several vulnerability points. Because many DNA data sets are openly accessible online, the study warns that cyber criminals can abuse the information for surveillance, manipulation or malicious experiments, the researchers in the study published in the magazine IEEE Access said.
“Our work is a wake-up call. Protection of genomic data is not only about coding-it is about anticipating attacks that have not yet existed. We need a paradigm shift in how we secure the future of precision medicine,” said Dr. Nasreen Anjum from the University of Portsmouth's School of Computing.
The research team identified new and emerging methods that hackers and people with malignant intention could use to exploit or attack systems, such as synthetic DNA-Coded malware, AI-drive manipulation of genome data and identity stracing through rewindening techniques.
These threats go beyond typical data breaches, which pose risks for individual privacy, scientific integrity and national security.
“Despite its importance, Cyber-Biosecurity remains one of the most neglected and poorly understood research disciplines and leaves a critical gap in global biosafility. To ensure that our DNA information remains safe and is only used, we insist on more research and cooperation to find ways to keep this powerful Anjum,” said.
The experts called on “governments, regulatory authorities, financing agencies and academic institutions” to priorit this field “before it's too late”.
The team also shared recommendations and practical solutions, including secure sequencing protocols, encrypted storage and AI-driven anomalia detection, creating a basis for much stronger cyberbiosecurity.
(This story was not edited by Our staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
