Cyber Risks to Next-Gen Brain-Computer Interfaces: Analysis and Recommendations

21 Pages Posted: 21 Feb 2025

See all articles by Tyler Schroder

Tyler Schroder

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center; Yale University - Department of Computer Science

Renée Sirbu

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center

Sohee Park

Yale University

Jessica Morley

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center

Sam Street

Yale University

Luciano Floridi

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center; University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies

Date Written: February 05, 2025

Abstract

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) show enormous potential for advancing personalized medicine. However, BCIs also introduce new avenues for cyber-attacks or security compromises. In this article, we analyze the problem and make recommendations for device manufacturers to better secure devices and to help regulators understand where more guidance is needed to protect patient safety and data confidentiality. Device manufacturers should implement the prior suggestions in their BCI products. These recommendations help protect BCI users from undue risks, including compromised personal health and genetic information, unintended BCI-mediated movement, and many other cybersecurity breaches. Regulators should mandate non-surgical device update methods, strong authentication and authorization schemes for BCI software modifications, encryption of data moving to and from the brain, and minimize network connectivity where possible. We also design a hypothetical, average-case threat model that identifies possible cybersecurity threats to BCI patients and predicts the likeliness of risk for each category of threat. BCIs are at less risk of physical compromise or attack, but are vulnerable to remote attack; we focus on possible threats via network paths to BCIs and suggest technical controls to limit network connections.

Keywords: Bioethics, Brain-Computer Interface, Cybersecurity, Neuroethics, Neurosecurity

Suggested Citation

Schroder, Tyler and Sirbu, Renée and Park, Sohee and Morley, Jessica and Street, Sam and Floridi, Luciano, Cyber Risks to Next-Gen Brain-Computer Interfaces: Analysis and Recommendations (February 05, 2025). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5138265 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5138265

Tyler Schroder (Contact Author)

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center ( email )

Yale University - Department of Computer Science ( email )

PO Box 208285
New Haven, CT
United States
203-432-1246 (Phone)

Renée Sirbu

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center ( email )

85, Trumbull Street
New Haven, CT 06511
United States

Sohee Park

Yale University ( email )

Jessica Morley

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center ( email )

85, Trumbull Street
New Haven, CT 06511
United States

Sam Street

Yale University ( email )

Luciano Floridi

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center ( email )

85 Trumbull Street
New Haven, CT CT 06511
United States
2034326473 (Phone)

University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies ( email )

Via Zamboni 22
Bologna, Bo 40100
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/luciano.floridi/en

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