Scientist Infects Self With Computer Virus

A computer virus has infected a human for the first time—sort of. British cybernetics expert Dr. Mark Gasson had a chip implanted in his hand that can open security doors and unlock his cell phone. However, before he implanted it, he deliberately infected it with a computer virus that targets his lab's security system. "Once the system is infected, anybody accessing the building with their passcard would be infected, too," Gasson told Sky News.

The virus is harmless but it shows how easily a malicious virus could take down an electronic security system. According to Gasson, it also exposes a major weakness in the chips that control pacemakers. He recommends that medical devices be encrypted and password protected. Read the full article. (More Mark Gasson stories.)