DNA testing services can provide useful information about one’s health, disease risk and other traits that allow one to be proactive about their health. However, the concept of digitizing DNA has some issues that need to be addressed, in addition to the benefits it brings to medical research and advancement.
Introduction
Like any piece of data, digitized DNA can be stolen as it is stored in an internet-connected database. Connecting any device to the internet poses some risks if precautions are not taken to mitigate cyber threats. Inadequate safeguards to protect digitized DNA is dangerous as there is no knowing what cyber criminals will do with such data. Perhaps, they might sell your DNA information on the black market for profit, or they might steal your identity. On the bright side, human DNA in digitized form can benefit science and medical research, if it can uncover cures for fatal illness. Since DNA is unique to you, it can be dubbed as personal identifying information that is highly valuable. If digitized DNA gets stolen, how will we know that theft has occurred. Thus, we must regularly consider how to safeguard DNA data that is stored on direct-to-consumer DNA sites.
Implications and Uses
Making DNA into digitized information sits under the umbrella of Cyberbiosecurity: an emerging field that aims to explore risks by digitizing anything in life sciences. With regards to digitized DNA, it can be stolen as it’s stored in a database. Additionally, the threats don’t stop with theft as other malicious activities can occur with stolen DNA information. The implications of having digitized DNA stolen are far greater than having your social security number stolen as it can be replaced. However, DNA is permanent and cannot be replaced should theft occur.
In criminal cases, digitized DNA can be matched to solve crime cases. Additionally, there are vast applications of digitized DNA. On the other hand, threat actors are trying to discover ways to turn a profit on DNA, which should concern us. Compromised DNA information is a major risk that must be dealt with regularly if we choose to digitize DNA.
Conclusion
While there are many uses for digitized DNA like seeing if your DNA makeup makes you a fit for a certain role, we must consider how much of our own DNA should be shared with others. We value privacy, but also demand the best security safeguard to protect our own confidential information. Hacking is ubiquitous as it’s considered to be the best way to break into networks of many organizations. Threat actors are attempting to steal data for their personal gains, and we must monitor the security of the servers that store confidential data, as well as the networks that transmit information. Innovations in technology won’t stop and vulnerabilities that appear need to be patched before they’re exploited by hackers. We must understand how digitized DNA is being used, stored, and secured. We must demand the best security safeguards in organizations seeking to use digitized DNA. Thus, we must be aware of the risks, in addition to the benefits of digitized DNA. Failure to do so can result in the devastating impacts of stolen identity.
References
Rizkallah, J. (2021, July 28). Hacking humans: Protecting our DNA from Cybercriminals. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2018/11/29/hacking-humans-protecting-our-dna-from-cybercriminals/