03 June 2025

Identify possible ethical considerations:

In Malicious Code, the ethical considerations are the potential for hackers to use a person’s DNA to “infect” a computer through the embedding of a malicious code into a DNA sequence. This could make places like labs and health care facilities more prone to hackers. These are places that record biological samples daily. Having a large database of these biological samples increases the desire for hackers looking to use the DNA to infect computers. The fact that this group found a way to create this malware DNA raises the question of should this even be an avenue of experimentation. As well as releasing the information, although basic, explaining the findings. The experiment itself may not have been meant to be malicious, but the findings do expose dangerous techniques that have now been proven to be possible.

In Hacking Humans, the ethical consideration that is most important is the privacy and security of DNA information. There are some good that comes from keeping DNA in a database, like police databases to compare DNA to a suspect in a case. However, if your DNA information is stolen and used as a type of stolen identity, there is no way to change your DNA like you could with a Social Security Number. Once the DNA is digitized, it can become very likely for a criminal to steal and use your DNA. There are hackers who see the value in hacking into databases holding DNA samples, selling this information on the dark web. Another concern is the potential of employers getting access to your DNA to ensure your genetic makeup is good enough for a job. This is certainly an invasion of privacy and can activate the potential discriminations against employees or those seeking employment.

Explain your position:

I do fear for the future of cybersecurity in terms biohacking. Digitizing DNA is exposing personal data that is specific to an individual. After reading both articles, the potential hacking and use of DNA to infect computers with a malware inside the DNA’s genetic code is a scary reality for our future. Although the claim that the use of DNA for biohacking is miniscule, there is now proof it can be done. I would hope that after these findings, cybersecurity researchers can discover a way to strengthen the privacy of data to prevent a possible biohacking event.

References

Coldewey, D. (2017, August 9). Malicious code written into DNA infects the computer that reads it. TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/09/malicious-code-written-into-dna-infects-the-computer-that-reads-it/

Rizkallah, J. (2018, November 29). Hacking humans: Protecting our DNA from cybercriminals. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2018/11/29/hacking-humans-protecting-our-dna-from-cybercriminals/