British scientist becomes first human to become infected with a computer virus

Dr Mark Gasson, a cybernetics scientist at the University of Reading, has become the world’s first human to become infected with a computer virus.

Gasson has an RFID (radio-frequency identification) chip implanted into his wrist, and deliberately infected it with a virus as part of an experiment to highlight the risks of having bionic implants. The chip usually is used to emit a signal unlocking locked doors in Gasson’s university and allowing only him to access his mobile phone dependant on which hand he is holding it in.

The virus Gasson installed was built to spread through the university lab’s databases, and replicate itself onto the swipe cards of his colleagues. Gasson’s findings show that viruses can quite easily be spread wirelessly from implanted devices.

Many life-saving devices such as pacemakers now include similar RFID chips in order for doctors to monitor their patients. While a computer virus could not harm Gasson’s health, if a virus interfered with the workings of implanted medical devices it could prove fatal.

Via: Sky News