A CYBERSECURITY expert has revealed how hackers could target the AI brain chip that Elon Musk’s Neuralink firm just inserted into a human.
Musk has big plans for the chips to be positive life-changing gadgets but computer security expert Roger Grimes warned the device could be deadly.
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“History has shown that most, if not all, past implantable medical devices and chips are hackable.
“Why would this one be any different?” Grimes told The U.S. Sun.
The concerned security expert has been in the industry for 35 years, has authored over a dozen books on data and computer security, and works as a consultant for major corporations on their cyber defense.
He went on to explain how AI brain chips could be hacked and the lengths a cybercriminal would need to go to.
“First, at least for now, they aren’t linked to the Internet.
“Being linked to the Internet significantly raises cybersecurity risk,” Grimes warned.
Secondly, Grimes noted that cybercriminals would need to know which computer operating system the Neuralink brain chip is using.
It’s likely not common or popular software and therefore not as susceptible to hackers.
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“This means that it will be significantly harder for those who don’t have the internal specs to figure out how to hack it, and none of the traditional hacking tools would work against it,” Grimes explained.
“We are not even sure if the chip is running updatable code, which is required for most hacking.
“Third, you likely need physical or near proximity to interface with the chip.”
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Right now, the identity of the first human recipient of Musk’s AI brain chip is under wraps and their location is not public knowledge.
“Fourth, and last, you would need specific knowledge of how the chip worked and how to manipulate its operations without causing operational issues,” Grimes said.
He noted that we don’t even have a vague idea of how the brain chip works at a technical level right now.
That would be crucial information for potential hackers.
Despite the challenges, Grimes notes that plenty of past medical devices have been hacked and questioned why Neuralink’s brain chip would be different.
He thinks the person implanted with the brain chip is not likely to be hacked any time soon.
“All the previously mentioned offsetting mitigations make it very unlikely that that particular chip will be successfully hacked anytime soon.”
One of the biggest concerns for Grimes is that the life of the user could be harmed.
“Past medical device hacks have shown that hackers were able to maliciously manipulate operations in such a way as to harm the life of the wearer,” he warned.
Depending on what the brain chip is being used for, the consequences could be deadly.
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As the CEO of Neuralink, Musk has previously revealed plans for the device to help people recover from brain injuries.
He also predicted that human consciousness could be uploaded to chips and inserted into another body or machine if the original body dies.
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