Hackers' Next Target — Your Brain? 295
Hugh Pickens writes "Wired reports that as neural devices become more complicated — and go wireless — some scientists say the risks of 'brain hacking' should be taken seriously. '"Neural devices are innovating at an extremely rapid rate and hold tremendous promise for the future," said computer security expert Tadayoshi Kohno of the University of Washington. "But if we don't start paying attention to security, we're worried that we might find ourselves in five or 10 years saying we've made a big mistake."' For example, the next generation of implantable devices to control prosthetic limbs will likely include wireless controls that allow physicians to remotely adjust settings on the machine. If neural engineers don't build in security features such as encryption and access control, an attacker could hijack the device and take over the robotic limb." Relatedly, several users have written to tell us that science may be closer to the science fiction "mind wipe" than previously thought. Put this all together and I welcome the next step in social networking; letting the cloud drive my limbs around town via a live webcam and then wiping the memory from my brain. Who has MyLimb.com parked and is willing to deal?
Encryption (Score:5, Funny)
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goatse,
eel soup,
two girls one cup,
kids in sandbox,
dump.jpg (ok that one was off of a Hermes II bbs back in the day, not the internet)
I mean if they want that stuff... they can have it.
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It looks like someone already hacked your brain and implanted some nasti memes there.
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No no, you don't understand! He referred to an even older meme from the Monthy Python era through which he is referring to an even older meme from an era most people are not sure about anymore:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=408989 [google.com]
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Re:Encryption (Score:5, Funny)
Forget that, I'm going to copy my brain and run it in a VM.
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> Go insane. It's the new encryption.
My brain will be running Windows Millenium Hand and Shrimp.
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Suddenly a Tinfoil hat seems like common sense. (Score:4, Funny)
Goddamned, the unintended consequence of techonological evolution is that it makes every conspiracy theory ultimately more likely to do in the future.
Future? (Score:2, Insightful)
Your brain has been hacked since birth. It's called "Marketing". Tons and tons of exploits in the wild, including appeals to Emotion, Manipulation of Statistics, Lying to the Gullible, Threats Against Afterlife, Us or Them, etc, etc. Unfortunately, although a security suite is supposed to be installed during adolescence, too many are ineffective copies of Public Education or have installation prevented by previous installations of Sunday School and Parental Brainwashing.
How ironic... (Score:3, Interesting)
It is that ... by silently critiquing religion, you've fallen into your own self defined trap of "US or them"..
And, we might also note, that "threats against the afterlife" is essentially interchangable with "saving the planet"
a risk I'm willing to take (Score:4, Funny)
If it means that in the future our government will employ cyber-babes in ridiculous fuck-me outfits to fight crime.
(Still finding it ridiculous that the Major was essentially wearing a one-piece bathing suit and leather jacket as her uniform in the GITS tv series.)
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"Still finding it ridiculous that the Major was essentially wearing a one-piece bathing suit and leather jacket as her uniform in the GITS tv series."
But we're talking about fantasy here and money, the outfit was to draw attention and $$$. Anything to get the biggest audience possible. Doing a movie/story for ones art and vision is not appreciated by everybody and therein lies the rub.
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Just be glad she didn't have cat ears and a ridiculously large bell around her neck. It's Japanese-- you get what you can take!
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Here's a question... (Score:3, Funny)
If everyone could hack into any person's brain and have sex with whoever they want, then what kind of society would that be like? On one hand, some super hot chicks are going to be pretty busy, but on the other hand, you would be reprogrammed periodically to think that bigfoot was hot.
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on the other hand, you would be reprogrammed periodically to think that bigfoot was hot.
Of course bigfoot is hot - have you ever been inside out of those costumes?
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I think you misunderstood.
You would hack into the brain of the really HOT chick, and make her want to fsck you!
In which case, again...the really hot girls would be VERY busy.
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And then you would wonder "Did I just hack a hottie, or did I just get hacked into thinking I was with a hottie by the more-homely-than-I that I actually banged".
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If you're having sex with someone's brain [...]
Disgusting thought. Is there even a name for this, ahem, variant?
Spam (Score:3, Interesting)
The big worry is not hacking, after all I am sure that there will be plenty of security software you can download, but rather the effects of spam.
Re:Spam (Score:5, Informative)
I think this was put in as colour in one of Neal Stephenson's novels (I think it was the Diamond Age) ; aha
Bud knew a guy like that who'd somehow gotten infected with a meme that ran advertisements for roach motels, in Hindi, superimposed on the bottom right-hand corner of his visual field, twenty-four hours a day, until the guy whacked himself.
OK, tell the truth (Score:3, Funny)
Who else has a clear mental picture of Dr. Strangelove being choked by his own (gloved) hand?
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Personally I was thinking Ash.
"Then it came after me, it got into my hand and it went bad, so I lopped it off at the wrist."
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I actually thought of that scene in Evil Dead 2 where Bruce Campbell's possessed hand starts beating him senseless...
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Curse those evil penguins!
Don't need electronics to hack someones brain (Score:5, Interesting)
Someone at work mentioned to me recently that it will be a scary day when someone can program your brain. Well I've already seen it happen. My local Walmart is in sort of a high-risk part of town, so the "greeters" will ask to see your receipt if you have any bulk items in your cart that aren't in bags. So people get used to having their receipt handy when they walk out the door. Now yesterday it was kind of busy, and one greeter to check receipts. Guess what I saw? A line of about 10 people waiting to show their receipt before leaving the store. Meanwhile I push my cart right around them (I've already waited in line for 25 minutes just to pay, I'm not going to wait again to leave the store). It appears that those in line were robots that have been programmed (conditioned) so much that they couldn't think of leaving without waiting to show their receipt. Keep in mind that there is not sign saying you have to show your receipt.
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That people volunteer to shop at Walmart is sufficient evidence of programming. Every time I go to a {Walmart, Best Buy, ...} I have a feeling that I'm the butt of a joke to see how much dignity you will resign for a couple of bucks. Kind of like a reality version of The Price Is Right in your own neighbourhood. Maybe I took too much acid.
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And of course, the concept of dignity is likely the result of some programming.
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Much like how gas prices of over $2/gallon are just fine now, because we went to $4+ a gallon for a short time.
Every time someone complains about gas prices now, everyone says, "At least it's not $4+ a gallon again!"
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$4 was a lot, but current prices are arguably 'normal':
http://inflationdata.com/inflation/images/charts/Oil/Gasoline_inflation_chart.htm [inflationdata.com]
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They're not robots. They're exercising free will to make a choice you disagree with. They see it as an element of manners to show that they're not stealing, and for some reason they care about how they look to that greeter despite knowing they're not thieves. Let them get on with it without the name-calling.
Re:Don't need electronics to hack someones brain (Score:4, Interesting)
Nope, they can't. The question, "can I look in your bag?"
is replied, at least by myself, with, "are you a police officer with a warrant?"
I've worked retail. You can't catch good shoplifters. You just have to let them go, focus on the paying customers, and accept the losses as the cost of doing business.
Not quite true (Score:2, Informative)
If a person is being uncooperative, you may have to "let them go" but you can make a note of who they are then ban them from the store and possibly the entire chain "just because" you don't want their business. "This store reserved the right to not do business with any person" is legal in the USA, unless it's used to discriminate against a group.
If you have cameras blanketing the store and are bored, you can check the security cameras to see if he was just being an ass or if he really did have something (s
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Sorry. I didn't specify that I'm Canadian, so your mickey mouse laws don't apply to me.
If you lose visual on a shoplifter, you can't persue the offence.
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Sorry. I didn't specify that I'm Canadian, so your mickey mouse laws don't apply to me.
If you lose visual on a shoplifter, you can't persue the offence.
That's pretty much what the laws in most states say as well.
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Normally stores will not press the issue due to fear of litigation. But if they wanted to there are certain procedures they can do to arrest shoplifters.
Not in my state (Utah) or, as I understand it, in most states.
Utah's laws are pretty typical in this regard. They can detain you, but only if they have specific probable cause to believe you stole something. Basically, they had to see you do it. Otherwise they have no authority to stop you. You're right that the fourth amendment doesn't apply, but laws against unlawful detention and kidnapping do, and if they hold you without justifiable cause that's exactly what they're doing and you can press charge
Re:Don't need electronics to hack someones brain (Score:4, Insightful)
Actually, they do not.
Only in a few states do the stores have some limited rights to detain you, and that is ONLY if they suspect you have shoplifted something, and they had better make damned they know you have or you can sue them pretty badly.
I don't put up with that receipt thing anywhere, with the exception of Sam's Club. I do believe I signed on the membership agreement (private club) that I would allow this. But any other public place, even if they post a sign on the store saying this policy, does not give them the right to stop you if you are not under suspicion of theft.
I walked out of Guitar Center awhile back, and the kid was almost coming after me "I have to check your receipt"...etc. I just kept walking and over my shoulder said, "No you do not, unless you suspect me of stealing something"...and with that said, he quickly shut up and went back inside. I wasn't a smartass about it, just calmly stated the facts and went about my way.
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Jokes in Summaries (Score:2, Informative)
Who has MyLimb.com parked and is willing to deal?
Ah ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Am I the only person who notices that every single summary submitter tries to show off his nonexistent ability to be funny? This doesn't help the summary and every time I read a stupid joke in the summary like that, I have a mental facepalm. They make me feel embarrassed for the thread submitter, and it hurts; kind of like watching a really bad performance at a talent show.
Seriously, if you submit a thread, don't put a joke in it, because chances are your joke sucks and i
Ghost in the Shell (Score:2)
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Everybody else thought the reference was too obvious, and didn't want to be the dork thinking he was being all clever by posting it.
No matrix for me thankyou (Score:3, Insightful)
Which is why if/when direct brain IO is developed, you won't find me anywhere near it, unless I am in a situation where it is the only option to restore normal faculties (ie: injury or illness). Currently, when a power surge or an attack occurs against my device/computer the damage maxes out at the value of the device (assuming I'm backing up data). If a power surge or an attack occurs via a direct link hooked up to my brain, the damage is total.
That said, the article is still relevant because neuro-tech has great potential to increase the quality and length of life in ways currently not possible. As always, it's important to stop and think about the short/long term consequences of actions (novel thought).
Future FUD Fantastic (Score:4, Insightful)
Realistically, how hard would it be to include an OFF switch on the external interface used for doctor diagnostics?
I mean, for pete sake people, what possible gain would there be in trying to break into a mechanical leg?
Can you take any part of that to the bank? There is no money to follow. There is no information to gain.
Do you see anyone hacking your IP Oven, or you IP Coffee maker? http://workingmomwa.blogspot.com/2008/06/coffee-maker-needs-security-update.html [blogspot.com]
How does an interface to a prosthetic limb somehow suggest a "mine whipe". Does my pedicure predict a lobotomy?
Come on, people. There is some fool snickering somewhere that the drunken brainstorm he posted somewhere has actually morphed into a story on Slashdot.
Re:Future FUD Fantastic (Score:4, Insightful)
What money is there in vandalism? None.
The answer of your question of why anybody would do this: because they can.
Re:Future FUD Fantastic (Score:5, Insightful)
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How does a neural interface suggest a 'mine whipe'? (SIC)
It doesn't. But your question strongly suggests that you didn't RTFA. The topic is hacking wetware, and there are two distinct branches: hacking the wireless interfaces to implanted devices EG prosthetics, and a completely chilling (terrifying?) account of chemical uses that very effectively erase your memories... forever.
Seriously - RTFA! Where today we have mysterious 'suicides' we may soon find accounts of amnesia rapidly on-the-rise among (former)
Re:Future FUD Fantastic (Score:4, Insightful)
Notoriety..?
"Oh, that guy, he's the one designed that prosthetic limb worm... You know, the virus that made prosthetic limbs wiggle around?"
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On the flip side, some people are just sadistic enough to do things for the sake of torturing people. Remember when that girl died in car accident a few months back and people started em
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Grow up.
Langford Fractal Basilisk (Score:2)
Better get in practice... start a shudder club today!
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Different Kinds of Darkness is still to this day one of my favorite stories.
The CIA has had this tech for years (Score:3, Funny)
effects (Score:2, Funny)
there, fixed that for you.
Well, it probably affects a previously-done thorough mind wipe too but I don't think that's what you meant.
sigh (Score:2)
really? Are people this bored from being unemployed that they need to work on articles like this to pass the time. I'm disappointed with a side of disgruntled.
I can't wait ... (Score:2)
Limb hacking has been done before: (Score:2)
FYI- Some great shots of Jessica Alba...
Why bother? (Score:2)
It's not worth hacking.
We talk a lot here about how Windows gets hacked more than Linux or Mac because it has a higher market share.
What's the market share on a prosthetic limb?
By the way, the style sheets are totally fucked up on IE6. Some of us aren't running nightly Firefox builds, morons. Try testing your code on various paltforms.
What? It's a managed work computer. It is what it is.
No, USB devices aren't permitted either, so Portable Firefox is out.
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Beardo, I'm truly sorry that your workplace forces you to run IE6. But at some point that has to be their problem instead of everyone else's. Eventually they are going to have to migrate or deal with the fact that many web sites won't load for them.
If any site should be able to drop IE6 support, it's Slashdot.
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I don't understand your signature. /EE
Go ahead, hack away (Score:2)
Thia week on sci-fi brain hacks (Score:2)
Thia week on sci-fi brain hacks.
This sounds like something out of a b-movie and it seems like stuff like this has been done / done in parts in many b movies.
Cutter... come in Cutter! (Score:2)
Brain hacking (Score:2)
Brain hacking has been around for a long time. Its primary vector is language.
Marketing, peer pressure, memes, prophecies, and rumors are all brain hacking.
It's just not a direct connection, but given how badly so many things have turned out at the hands of a large informed group, it looks like it succeeds most of the time.
There is only one solution: learn philosophy and critical thinking.
Let them... (Score:2)
If they can find my other sock or when I put my car keys then they have something.
This has existed for years (Score:2, Insightful)
it's called advertising.
...so we really are a virus (Score:2)
I thought what I'd do was (Score:2)
Future Husband Excuse... (Score:3, Funny)
But honey, it wasn't really me! Someone hacked into my brain and *MADE* me do that!
Ack, should have aimed this at 'Snow Crash' (Score:3, Interesting)
Mind wipe (Score:2)
Even if your personality remained intact, if the memories responsible for learning skills, values, and relationships were wiped, at best you'd be like a complete amnesiac, at worst, like a young child but without the fast-developing brain of a child.
If your moral values were gone, someone bent on evil could teach you the values he wanted you to have. If your relationships were forgotten you might latch on to anyone who gave you love and attention.
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>If your moral values were gone, someone bent on evil could teach you the values he wanted you to have.
.
Wow! A talk radio revival could be in the works.
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1. after all in Soviet Russia tin foil makes people into hats 2. 3. profit!
you must be new here, and so on.
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Re:No... not buying this at all (Score:5, Insightful)
Okay, this only holds true IF we are truly biological machines with advanced programming. If we actually do have a soul, then this whole idea goes out the window (and a whole lot of other, much bigger problems come in).
I don't see how the soul comes into play here.
Correct me if I'm wrong (I have ZERO medical background), but throughout the years there have been examples of conditioned responses and hypnotism. Then there is shock therapy and some drugs to help wipe some thoughts and memories, and let's not forget about sleepwalking and sleepdriving.
If a person gets amnesia, does that mean the soul has left the body?
If a person sleepwalks due to a personal problem or a medication reaction, does that mean during that time there is no soul?
etc
Given enough time and advancement, who's to say that in 100 years that either a combination of the above couldn't take control of a person and wipe their memory afterwards. Especially once we start wiring hackable devices into our nervous system.
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If I read this correctly, you are suggesting we wait for a cron jon with sufficient security access, hit it with a buffer overrun, and then wipe the logs after we are done? 0day is going to be the most popular RSS feed on the web!
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Yeah, I agree with you. I believe in souls, but that soul is in a physical body, and that body is definitely a biological machine that can be altered or manipulated. The evidence of this is simply overwhelming -- look at mental illness. A person's "spirit" overcoming psychological brainwashing or even more advanced technological control is a nice device for fiction, but in reality we have no reason to think that's the way it will work.
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Why would you believe in souls? Where does the program go when you turn it off? That great hard drive in the sky?
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Actually , i don't believe a soul is anything physical . It's has nothing to do with memories.
You remember , because of your physical brain , but you are , because of your soul.
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You remember , because of your physical brain , but you are , because of your soul.
QFT. It's somewhat sad that people overlook the most basic experience they have... Even Descartes, when he wanted to put every bit of knowledge he had to doubt, still could not doubt that his soul exists. After all - without a soul, we would merely be biological machines (the kind La Mettrie spoke of), which would not be aware of their own existence, but would simply do what their brains would order them to.
Let me use my favourite quote:
"It must be confessed, moreover, that perception, and that which de
Re:No... not buying this at all (Score:5, Interesting)
I find it interesting that you are so easily able to deny that something could not possibly be self-aware without a soul. Do you have any proof, any at all beyond hopes and dreams? Many modern philosophic theories of consciousness eliminate the necessity of the Cartesian theatre (I find Dennet's pretty compelling), and many experiments bear out a reality that would be quite bizarre if an external entity such as a soul really drove us.
As long as we are talking of merely feelings with no basis, I find no evidence to dissuade me that I am anything more than a meat machine with some clever biological and memetic tricks. I see no reason to increase the complexity of the system by necessitating that we have such (odd at least it seems to us) advanced biological machinery that is our brain with such complex parallel behaviour and yet it exists without purpose or meaning because it does nothing. Because requiring the existence of the soul which drives us means the brain is nothing, it serves no purpose. Why do you have it? Why does our body expend so much resources keeping it functioning? Our pure autonomic functions can be handled by the cerebellum and the spinal cord (and probably far less), the rest of it is totally meaningless.
Combine this with the fact that our brains share so many similarities with many of the animals around us, yet oddly (at least inasmuch as many humans find it necessary to place themselves on a higher pedestal than everything else around us) they have no soul, ought to make one stop and ponder again why one insists on declaring we have a soul and that is who we are and not the biological machine. Do elephants have souls? They are self aware, they recognise themselves in mirrors. Or do you subscribe to a school of thought where it would be impossible to say an elephant is self-aware yet will deny solipsism in the same breath?
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If you have soul you've already been hacked. By God.
Re:No... not buying this at all (Score:4, Insightful)
I am not saying people can't have souls, I am just saying the soul doesn't control our body.
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So exactly what part of this would the "soul" prevent from taking place?
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>>> import sys
>>> sys.modules["soul"]
<module 'soul' from 'soul.py'>
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but even if we do have this magical 'soul', doesn't that mean it would just adhere to a set of rules that can still allow it to be manipulated? Let's face it, even if something is magic and mysterious, it can still be deciphered (and if it has an influence, then it must be possible to influence it). Hell, there's a lot of people trying to justify the existence of a soul with quantum physics, so it wouldn't be much of a stretch to say you could hack it with a quantum computer.
That would be the BIG problem referenced (Score:2)
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please define 'soul'
It would be hard to do per genus proximum et differentia specifica... Let me just say that it's what creates time and space, enables you to make choices (free will) and controls the body via the brain.
Some people (like Dawkins, IIRC) like to say that the brain is an on-board computer, of sorts, for the body. It's a great analogy, because a computer is blind and inert without someone to either operate it or program it. The soul is the "user", what you experience is the "software", your body is the "hardware
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That's preposterous, Megahard doesn't have a mind of his own, he does what I tell him. Wait a second.... Either your username is coincidentally what my dick's name is, or he has developed a mind of his own and has begun to frequent slashdot.
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Not to say that you're just some imaginary, programmed character, Mr. Gorbrash Tharpweed.
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By the time you have decent neural I/O, you'll have a world of simulators to choose from. Nobody's going to kidnap anybody if they can experience the same thing with a cheap simulation.
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