After reading “Hacking Humans: Protecting our DNA from Cybercriminals” by Juliette
Rizkallah, one major takeaway that was obvious to me right away was how unprepared we
are when it comes to protecting our genetic data. In the article, Rizkallah explains that as
DNA testing and storage have become more common, our most personal information is
now at risk of not only being stolen but also of being hacked. Although, I can see the major
vulnerabilities to gene editing, I do think there could be huge medical and scientific
benefits as well. The idea that we could potentially cure cancer would be monumental. On
the other side of that, I can see how dangerous it could be if that capability got into the
wrong hands. Cybercriminals could potentially steal and manipulate our genetic
information for all sorts of things such as identity theft, discrimination or even just financial
gain. I thought it was interesting to note that Rizkallah brought up the point that a genetic
security breach is not just about one person but could affect future generations as well.
This shows how one singular breach can have lasting consequences. Another point that
I thought was very important, was the labs and companies that are collecting our genetic
data don’t have strong enough cybersecurity systems in place. We need stronger standards
on whom has access, as well as monitoring to prevent potential attacks. Overall, I felt the
article serves as a warning of what could potentially happen in the future if we don’t
protect our genetic data with the same seriousness as national security.