According to a study released on Thursday, hackers may use next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) technology to exploit flaws in genomic data, hence it is important to secure it.

NGS is a powerful sequencing method utilized in gene research, infectious disease tracking, cancer diagnoses, and the creation of customized medications.

Researchers at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom expressed alarm about the tool’s potential for data breaches, privacy abuses, and possibly future hacker biothreats.

The procedures provide several points of vulnerability even though they are necessary to produce precise findings. The study, which was published in the journal IEEE Access, cautioned that because many DNA datasets are publicly available online, fraudsters may exploit the data for nefarious experimentation, modification, or monitoring.

“Our work serves as a warning. Encryption is only one aspect of protecting genomic data; another is preparing for potential threats. To secure the future of precision medicine, we need to change the way we think about it,” stated Dr. Nasreen Anjum of the School of Computing at the University of Portsmouth.

The research team discovered new and developing ways, like malware encoded with synthetic DNA, AI-driven genome data manipulation, and identity tracing through re-identification methods, that hackers and people with malevolent intent could employ to exploit or attack systems.

These dangers extend beyond common data breaches and endanger national security, scientific integrity, and individual privacy.

Cyber-biosecurity is still one of the most underappreciated and little understood scientific fields, despite its significance, and it is causing a serious void in global biosecurity. We’re calling for greater research and cooperation to develop ways to keep this potent technology secure so that our DNA information remains protected and is utilized exclusively for good,” Anjum stated.

Before it’s too late, the experts urged “governments, regulatory bodies, funding agencies, and academic institutions” to give this sector top priority.

To provide the groundwork for even more robust cyber-biosecurity, the team also offered suggestions and workable fixes, such as protected storage, secure sequencing procedures, and AI-powered anomaly detection.