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Malware Encoded in DNA Can Hack Gene-Sequencing Software

wired.com

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Re: Malware Encoded in DNA Can Hack Gene-Sequencing Software

#41

Post by taeric »

icelancer wrote: post #27
taeric wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Though, really, is that interesting? Yes, you should treat all input data as data no matter where it came from. And you should have checks in place to reject any data that is out of size/whatever constraints for your software. And for the love of secure software, never blindly execute code from a serialized source without damned good reasons for thinking that source is safe.

>Though, really, is that interesting? Yes. Trusting human DNA is something that WILL absolutely, 100%, no-doubt-about it happen in the future and you will hear about it. People are good at finding ways to screw things up.

Sorry, the interesting like there was supposed to refer to the advice of always sanitize inputs. That, by itself is interesting.

Exploring ways it can hurt you in DNA? Yeah, fun thought experiment.

Re: Malware Encoded in DNA Can Hack Gene-Sequencing Software

#44

Post by appearsonline »

rgejman wrote: post #40
andyjohnson0 wrote: post #36

1. Gene sequence injects malware to take control of DNA sequencer. 2. Compromised sequencer searches local network for DNA synthesisers. 3. Malware modifies synthesiser software to insert novel retrovirus into output DNA. 3. Wait for DNA to be executed inside a cell. Stuxnet for DNA.

this is the plot of a sci-fi novel waiting to happen.

Change Agent by Daniel Suarez is somewhat close:

In 2045 Interpol's Genetic Crime Division grapples with a new type of crime: illicit genetic editing -- and it isn't long before the fight gets personal.

Re: Malware Encoded in DNA Can Hack Gene-Sequencing Software

#45

Post by throwaway91111 »

maxton wrote: post #6

> "Rather than exploit an existing vulnerability in the fqzcomp program, as real-world hackers do, they modified the program's open-source code to insert their own flaw allowing the buffer overflow." So really, this is not as interesting as the headline would have you believe. Storing data in DNA is nothing new, and these researchers are just using it as input to a program that was deliberately written to improperly…

I'm not sure exactly what you were expecting, but the title seems suitable to me.

Re: Malware Encoded in DNA Can Hack Gene-Sequencing Software

#46

Post by throwaway91111 »

andyjohnson0 wrote: post #36

1. Gene sequence injects malware to take control of DNA sequencer. 2. Compromised sequencer searches local network for DNA synthesisers. 3. Malware modifies synthesiser software to insert novel retrovirus into output DNA. 3. Wait for DNA to be executed inside a cell. Stuxnet for DNA.

While this is cool, it just seems like a clunky version of an actual virus.

Re: Malware Encoded in DNA Can Hack Gene-Sequencing Software

#47

Post by digikata »

captainmuon wrote: post #39
number6 wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or a kind of message or language that when seen by a human or processed by a brain can crash or exploit it ... It's also the plot of a good book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Crash

You can use adversarial neural networks to make a special picture that looks like noise or junk, but a certain neural network will recognize e.g. a dog in it. You basically train the ANN to make something that the other NN classifies as dog, but humans don't. I often wonder if you could do that with humans. I don't think you can crash a human brain a la Snow Crash or Basilisk, but I think it is plausible to craft an…

> but I think it is plausible to craft an abstract picture that creates fear, arousal, or some other "primitive" response.

Visit a modern art museum - I think one can find many examples.

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