Sure, a
cybernetic-filled, dystopian future may sound nice and cheery, but what happens when all your snazzy
implants get infected with a computer virus? That's what one brave researcher at the University of Reading is attempting to find out, and he's now actually gone so far as to willingly "infect" himself in the name of science. As you might expect, however, this is all this very much a proof of concept, but Dr. Mark Gasson says that the infected RFID chip in his hand was indeed able to pass on the virus to an external control device in his trials, and he warns that the eventual real world implications could be far more dire. Gasson is particularly concerned when it comes to medical implants, which he says could potentially become infected by other implants in the body, and even pass on the "infection" to other people. Head on past the break for the BBC's report, and try not to be too startled by the Dalek in the room.
[Thanks, Mark S]
posted May 26th 2010 2:17PM
@Geaux
well,since its the red ring OF DEATH,i'd say its the clap...but thats me
Should've got a MAC lol
Snow Crash is coming!
I go to Reading University! :)
@arron08 if this is what school funds are being spent on, i'd get a refund on tuition.
@arron08 I live in Reading!
that guy looks like he doesn't sleep for computer viruses.
Just take 400 mg of Symantec, twice a day, and drink lots of liquid.
@shishi
* Side effects may include explosive diarrhea, nausea, impotence, loss of an arm or leg, severe itching, diabetes, blurry vision, loss of hearing, and random loss of data.
@shishi don't forget memory leaks...i mean memory loss.
@shishi
As long as its not McAfee...
"Oh, yay! Antivirus update!"
***Pacemaker firmware image gets falsely targeted as a virus***
***Heart stops***
Blue screen of DEATH, this time its for real
Dr. Mark Gasson is clearly an alias for John Connor, who has taken the fight against Skynet to the streets.
Guess I better get a Kaiser-Symantec anti-virus then
Cyborg AIDS is srs bzns
i have come here from the future to tell you to upgrade to 5.0!!! 5.0!!!!
I am Locutus of Borg. Your life as it has been is over. You will service us.
Eew. Do not get cochlear implants!!!
I don't get the big deal. Copy a virus to a flash stick, swallow it, done.
Oh please. This is like the "grey goo" postulation, only even more ridiculous.
I'm more worried about DRM infections. Effectively shutting down your senses if you dared play a clip
unapproved by our MPAA/RIAA overlords
How about not making implants writable without some sort of physical interaction? idk
Future medical implants will now come with a free 6-month subscription to McAfee antivirus!
The guy's a dummy. The Dalek's working him.Their masterplan is FUD.
Well least he doesn't need a computer for porn anymore
So basically, the lesson learned is that if you get the RFID tag and screw around with the law, a virus will be downloaded to your arse immediately!!
so the Fembot can give you herpes too, lame
Whats next?...giving laptops diarrhea?...
Revelation 666
If It ever happens to me, I'll just stick a USB dongle up my ass with an antivirus.
Engadget May 26th, 2050
BREAKING: virus cures now come as USB suppositories
What sheer and utter B.S. !!!
Why is engadget, or anyone giving press to somebody whom I can only assume is a press whore?
I mean - what is the story.
He was able to transfer a computer virus wirelessly between two pieces of hardware which inter-operate wirelessly!?
But because he had put one of them in his hand it is some big breakthrough!?
Holy Crap.
I expect to have to explain the inanity of such stories to certain friends or my brother-in-law...
... but on engadget!?
Really!?
Saw this report on the BBC news about 5 times today and everytime i saw it i couldn't help but imagine someone ringing their boss to say "Sorry i cant come into work today, i've got a computer virus!"
I want the chip which can disable use of my phone for anybody but me.
@borowarz
I'm with you there. Screw having to do a pattern unlock.
Im gonna start learning programming, its gonna be really handy in my future when i have the chip inside XD
dystopian future? Don't you mean utopian?
dystopian? Don't you mean utopian?
On youtube this comment section would've bee full of new world order christian comments.
I couldn't help but imagine a news report of him getting his hand chopped off so someone could use his phone. I think I'm going to avoid any R/W capable implants for this lifetime. I could deal if they would write the the data onto some of write-once ROM.
Hey, an episode plot line for season 14 of House!
"dystopian future may sound nice and cheery"
A dystopian future is, by definition, not light and cheery. It is the opposite of utopian. (which is what you likely meant to use) At first i though you were using it ironically but after reading the article i think you just didn't understand the meaning of the word.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dystopian
This brings new meaning to the guys with tin foil on their heads.
This is pretty interesting :D
I think we need to provide extra protection to our computers cause you never know when you'll be attacked. I accidentally found this website with the best security software nowadays,. I think I'll pick one from there to protect my computer.http://www.best-antivirus.co/