First Human Is Infected With Computer Virus

by T Goodman

First implant to be hacked: image via mobiledia.com First implant to be hacked: image via mobiledia.com Pacemakers, defibrillators, cochlear implants... and many other medical devices on the implant track, are at risk for hacking, just as the medical community and patients with implants feared. But it was reported today that an implant hacking actually took place, when a British scientist became the first human to be infected by a computer virus through his implant.

Mark Gasson, from the University of Reading's School of Systems Engineering in Britain, had a device implanted in his left hand. A modified RFID chip, similar to those used to tag pets, was implanted in his hand as an experiment by Gasson to test if he could wirelessly activate mobile phones and pass through security doors.

But Gasson's implanted chip was hacked and infected with a computer virus that not only duplicated his chip but added code to it before replicating itself into other connected devices.

While the damage to Gasson was not life threatening, the fact that it happened shows how vulnerable medical implants can be. "If someone can get online access to your implant, it could be serious," Gasson said. "It is possible that you could create a virus that completely corrupts the device to the point where it does not work any more."

"In the future, someone who is carrying an infected medical device could feasibly infect someone else," Gasson added. "Technology will need to keep pace with this so that implants, including medical devices, can be safely used in the future."

mobiledia.com

T Goodman
Medicine, Science, & Bio-Inspired Innovations
InventorSpot.com

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Comments

May 30, 2010
by Anonymous

This chip which was

This chip which was implanted was not meant for high security usage. So how can you make a judgement on this flaw?

May 31, 2010
by Anonymous

Dont like chips within

Very 666 & 1984.
& then to have hackers disrupt chip, how scary.

Guess they have to modify RFID chips now.

Apr 9, 2011
by danniel

Let's just hope the malware

Let's just hope the malware programmers won't come with the idea to develop one of this virus and use it against people in order to make money, although I fear sooner or later this will happen. Obviously they will have to increase the medical devices security when this happens, we all use some kind of internet security to protect our systems so I guess something similar should work.

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May 29, 2011
by Anonymous

whitesonia26

Creepy I guess. They've must have checked every ethernet cable wiring before making a move.

May 30, 2011
by Anonymous

Awesome Article

Mark Gasson, senior research fellow at the University of Reading, was able to infect a tiny, radio frequency identification (RFID) chip with a virus before he placed it under the skin on his hand. He uses that chip to activate his cell phone, as well as open secure doors.

Thanks to the computer chip, his cell phone knows when he's using it, and when someone else is trying to operate the device. If someone else tries to use his phone (after, say, stealing it), that person is not able to use it. Only Gasson can.

And instead of him swiping an ID card to enter his building, he just needs to wave his hand to gain entrance. The convenience of not taking out his ID and the safety of his phone come with a price, however.

He served as carrier, and was able to pass the virus on to an external computer.
uh oh

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May 31, 2011
by Anonymous

Crazy

WOW, this is insane. just goes to show we are never too safe when it comes to technology.
The underground hacker nerds seem to get at anything.
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Jun 8, 2011
by Anonymous

This is quite a scary

This is quite a scary thought that medical implant that are suppose to help us might be hacked and do harm to us. Thomson Grand

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Jun 14, 2011
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Wow this is really an interesting post, Mark Gasson is the first human to be Infected With Computer Virus. Technology will need to keep pace with this so that implants, including medical devices, can be safely used in the future. ~ Abby WEBMASTER of Custom Lanyard

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Aug 18, 2011
by Anonymous

Thanks!

Consider this as a warning before making a move. Thanks for posting this dude!
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Oct 19, 2011
by Anonymous

This is a unique situation.

This is a unique situation. It never crosses into my mind why it so happened. Is this really happening? It might be a job that needs investigation why it happened.

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Really, I got something new

Really, I got something new from here, I can't believe that someone really can be infected by computer virus but thanks for decent article ! zetaclear

First Human Is Infected With Computer Virus

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