"Security Flaw Could Allow Hackers to Trick Lab Scientists Into Making Viruses"

Cybersecurity researchers from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev demonstrated an end-to-end attack that can change data on a bioengineer's computer. As this cyberattack could meddle with DNA orders, it could lead to the development of toxins and viruses. According to the researchers, this attack works by infecting a researcher's computer with a Trojan Horse. When that researcher orders synthetic DNA, the malware then obfuscates the order to appear legitimate to the DNA shop's security software.  The DNA shop fills the order, and the obfuscated DNA sub-strings go undetected by the researcher's security software. The use of this method allowed researchers to bypass security for 16 out of 50 orders they used to test the technique. This research emphasizes the importance of developing methods that can detect these types of adapted envelope attacks as it is impossible for humans to check each DNA sequence. This article continues to discuss the attack demonstrated by researchers to trick lab scientists into creating viruses and how this issue could be addressed. 

TNW reports "Security Flaw Could Allow Hackers to Trick Lab Scientists Into Making Viruses"