Hacking the brain of someone with an implanted medical device is not a far-fetched illusion. While at one time a concept relegated to hair-raising Hollywood movies,
scientists in Belgium have found that a wireless brain implant, known as a neurostimulator, can be hacked using off-the-shelf materials. By utilizing remote exploitation, hackers can make voltage changes that, “could result in sensory denial, disability, and death.”
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is the procedure that is used to implant neurostimulators. Electrical impulses are then sent into the brain. DBS is has been used to ease the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, tremors and other medical disorders. It has also been used to treat illnesses such as depression and obsessive–compulsive disorder.
Private medical information could also be compromised due to the lack of encryption and authentication of these implantable devices. Future neurotransmitters are expected to leverage information extracted from brain waves like P-300, for the purpose of customizing therapy. So, if a hacker is able to capture and evaluate the signal, it would be possible for the victim’s private thoughts to be exposed.
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