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Scientists Warn: Our DNA Is Vulnerable to Hacking
- Next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) is revolutionizing biotechnology but also exposing vulnerabilities, as highlighted in a study in IEEE Access.
- The study led by Dr. Nasreen Anjum identifies cyber-biosecurity risks throughout the NGS workflow and emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration for defense.
- NGS converts biological samples to digital data, raising concerns about data security, interception, and manipulation by cybercriminals.
- A major threat is the embedding of malicious code in synthetic DNA, potentially allowing for cyber-attacks on sequencing processes.
- Protecting genomic data demands innovative defenses beyond encryption and conventional cybersecurity measures.
- The research underscores the need for proactive multilayered security frameworks to safeguard precision medicine and global biosecurity.
- Synthetic DNA-encoded malware poses a significant risk by weaponizing biological material and compromising sequencing devices.
- Recommendations include secure sequencing protocols, robust encryption, AI-powered anomaly detection, and cross-sector collaboration.
- The study calls for urgent attention to cyber-biosecurity to prevent potential surveillance abuses, discrimination, and biological terrorism.
- Interdisciplinary cooperation is crucial to address the evolving threats and ensure a secure deployment of NGS technologies worldwide.
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