Experts Warn: Our DNA Is At Risk Of Being Hacked
Updated
According to recent research, the same technology driving the rapid evolution of personalized medicines, embryo screenings, cancer diagnostics, infectious disease tracking, forensic investigations, and genomic editing may soon be a prime target for hackers. Called next-generation DNA/RNA sequencing (NGS), a study published in IEEE Access highlights how, if left unsecured, this powerful sequencing tool could be manipulated for privacy violations, data breaches, identity theft, blackmail, targeted medical sabotage, and, of course, bioterrorism.
Make no mistake, NGS—a technology whose swift adoption was conveniently and dramatically accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic—has transformed genomic research and healthcare by facilitating the rapid and cost-effective sequencing of DNA and RNA, exceeding previous, more conventional methods, such as Sanger sequencing. NGS has existed since the early 2000s, but, as if planned in advance, the pandemic provided a global health emergency platform to showcase the potential of NGS for rapid pathogen identification.
Further connecting the dots, NGS was used to sequence the first SARS-CoV-2 genome back in January 2020, just weeks after the first cases were reported. Before the pandemic, researchers were aware of the potential of NGS to identify and monitor novel pathogens, but—much like the mRNA jabs that had been in the works for years—researchers lacked a public health crisis to put it to the test. Following the sequencing of the first SARS-CoV-2 genome (which opened the door for the rapid development of PCR tests and mRNA jabs), NGS became the primary tool for monitoring the evolution of the virus, giving scientists a handy tool to continuously warn society of the emergence of new variants in real-time on a global scale.
Undoubtedly, for the lucrative healthcare industry, NGS has ushered in an entirely new era of proactive genomic surveillance for infectious diseases, whether we like it or not. How do they work together? Genomics is the scientific study of an entire genome, while NGS is a next-generation technology used to rapidly sequence DNA and RNA on a massive scale, making it an indispensable tool in the expanding field of genomics, which, not surprisingly, is increasingly tied to Artificial Intelligence (AI).
With the pandemic over and the dust settling around the myriad ramifications of NGS, the once decade-long, multi-billion-dollar endeavor is now achievable in an instant, meaning that tens of thousands of genomes are processed annually. Considering that NGS generates deeply personal, immutable biological data of a person, the risk is high for data breach and surveillance risks. Why should we care? Because at its core, NGS produces a blueprint of a person’s identity, lineage, health predispositions, and even potential cognitive traits. And unlike passwords or credit card numbers, an individual’s genome is permanent, meaning a breach of a genetic database is a breach that lasts a lifetime.
The study referenced above, from the University of Portsmouth and the first to comprehensively assess cyber-biosecurity risks in DNA sequencing, warns that the entire DNA sequencing process is riddled with cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The study found that, thanks to the inherently sensitive nature of genomic data, vulnerabilities in NGS technologies, software, data-sharing practices, and open-access databases expose it to dangers regarding data confidentiality, integrity, and privacy. While NGS data plays an increasingly indispensable role across numerous sectors, research addressing the cyber-biosecurity of these technologies is fragmented. The study authors warn:
“Most existing studies focus narrowly on specific areas, such as microbial sequencing or system architecture, and fail to provide a holistic perspective on the security challenges that span the entire NGS workflow. Additionally, the lack of interdisciplinary collaboration between the biotechnology and cybersecurity communities further exacerbates these gaps.”
The gaps are unacceptable. Each step of the process—from sample preparation to data analysis—offers hackers potential entry points to steal, manipulate, or weaponize genetic information. The researchers highlight new and frightening threats stemming from these vulnerabilities, including AI-powered genome manipulation, malware concealed in synthetic DNA, and the ability to trace individuals from samples that are intended to be anonymous. It certainly makes all those concerned that the experimental mRNA COVID-19 jabs alter an individual’s DNA (or connect us to manipulation by, for example, 5G or 6G) appear quite sensible in their worry.
Clearly, existing safeguards for genomic data are alarmingly weak. As genomic data, extracted using NGS, becomes critical to healthcare and research, experts are pressing governments, institutions, and tech developers to establish strong, unified protections. If left unchecked, the ramifications are endless. Some examples include the hacking of algorithms to generate false training data or disease risk, the use of synthetic DNA as a vector for cyberattacks, harvesting genetic material for competitive advantage (military enhancement, optimizing cognitive or disease resistance), population-level behavioral predictions, and so on.
Without urgent action, the most sensitive information—an individual’s genetic code—could be exploited by malicious actors. Indeed, in the blink of an eye, NGS is poised to become the newest frontier for espionage—quietly collecting, analyzing, and modifying the genetic infrastructure of people and populations, thereby bridging the gap between humans and technology. Remember, NGS does more than read an individual’s biology. It reveals their potential for augmentation. Without question, this opens the door to transhumanism, and thus, demands adherence to empathy, justice, and collective stewardship to maintain autonomy and individual freedom.
