Expert warns Elon Musk's Neuralink AI brain chip is a deadly hacking target
A CYBERSECURITY expert has revealed how hackers can target the AI brain chip that Elon Musk's Neuralink company just placed inside a human.
Musk has big plans to turn the chips into 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, implantable medical devices and chips of the past are hackable.
“Why would this one be any different?” Grimes told The US Sun.
The committed security expert has been in the industry for 35 years, has written more than a dozen books on data and computer security and works as a consultant for major companies on their cyber defense.
He further explained how AI brain chips could be hacked and what efforts a cybercriminal would have to go to.
“First, at least for now, they are not connected to the Internet.
“Being connected to the Internet significantly increases cybersecurity risk,” Grimes warned.
Second, Grimes noted that cybercriminals would need to know which computer operating system the Neuralink brain chip uses.
It is probably not common or popular software and therefore not very susceptible to hackers.
“This means 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 explains.
“We're not even sure if the chip uses updatable code, which is necessary for most hacks.
“Third, you probably need physical or close proximity to communicate with the chip.”
At this time, the identity of the first human recipient of Musk's AI brain chip is unknown and their location is not publicly known.
“Fourth and finally, you need specific knowledge of how the chip works and how to manipulate its operation without causing operational problems,” Grimes said.
He noted that at this point we don't even have a vague idea of how the brain chip works on a technical level.
That would be crucial information for potential hackers.
Despite the challenges, Grimes notes that many past medical devices have been hacked and wonders why Neuralink's brain chip would be any different.
He thinks that the person implanted with the brain chip will not be hacked anytime soon.
“All of the previously mentioned countervailing measures make it very unlikely that that specific chip will be successfully hacked anytime soon.”
One of Grimes' biggest concerns is that the user's life could be harmed.
“Previous hacks of medical devices have shown that hackers were able to maliciously manipulate operations in ways that harmed the wearer's life,” he warned.
Depending on what the brain chip is used for, the consequences can be fatal.
As CEO of Neuralink, Musk previously unveiled plans for the device to help people recover from brain injuries.
He also predicted that human consciousness could be uploaded onto chips and inserted into another body or machine when the original body dies.
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