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Scientists sound the alarm about threats of cybersecurity in the genomic. Security measures do not follow evolution.
Researchers in the areas of cybersecurity and biotechnology do not hesitate and warn of a new and worrying threat: Rirate DNA.
The “challenges of cyber-bi-segrance in the next generation” warns that state -of -the -art genomic sequence technologies are evolving faster than security measures. Thus vulnerable to cybership, data theft, malware infiltration and even biological sabotage are vulnerable.
The sequencing of new generation Combines biology with computer scienceexposing the process to unique risks in all its phases.
Researchers point out that the rapid expansion of new generation sequencing – in areas such as ancestry tests, disease diagnosis and personalized medicine – has exceeded the development of appropriate safety protocols.
This discrepancy leaves large amounts of personal genetic data exposed to potential abuse.
“Genomic data are one of the most personal we have,” reinforces Dr. Mahreen-ul-hasan, study coauthor, in. “If they are committed, the consequences go far beyond a common data violation“.
In other words, they are “scary” emerging threats, describes the.
The study identifies several critical vulnerabilities Throughout the new generation sequence chain: preparation of DNA samples, their sequence, analysis and storage in data cloud.
One of the most unsettling discoveries is the possibility of the DNA be used as a vehicle for malicious code. It is a real threat, not just theory theory.
Another concern: the ease with which anonymized genomic data can be reidentified. Even without associated names, DNA sequences with short repetitions in Tandem (STRS) can be crossed with public genealogical databases – and thus reveal identities.
It is a crime that compromises privacy, but can also originate cases of blackmail, discrimination and medical or insurance fraud.
The study also warns of the role of emerging technologies, such as the Artificial Intelligence (AI), in the worsening of these risks. AI systems can create sophisticated attack strategies, manipulate DNA synthesis requests, or develop specific malware to attack bioinformatic tools.
Sequence analysis software and bioinformatic pipelines are particularly vulnerable, and attackers may silent genetic interpretations. The study also warns that, once inserted in medical records or scientific databases, compromised data can cause damage without being detected.
