The ability to control electronics without touching them or paying with a swipe of the hand may seem like sci-fi, but it’s a growing reality. Microchip implants have existed in some form for decades, and technology is now advanced enough to make them practical. Still, this field carries significant security concerns.
The Growing Field of Implanted Microchips
Veterinarians have implanted radiofrequency identification chips in pets since the 1990s. Human microchips got FDA approval in 2004 for medical use, though the technology did not catch on at the time.
Fast-forward to today, and several leading tech companies and startups are researching microchip implants. Most famously, Elon Musk’s Neuralink has begun trials for brain-computer interfaces, which let users control electronic devices with their thoughts. Simpler chips that use RFID or near-field communication to store information or manage electronic payments are already available for commercial use.
These chips can stand in for debit cards, give doctors access to vital medical information or work as keycards to access digital locks. Though they may not necessarily be widespread yet, they’re becoming increasingly prevalent.
Cybersecurity Risks of Microchip Implants
While chip implants can be highly convenient, they also open the door to unique cybersecurity risks. People should consider these potential dangers before proceeding with the technology.
RFID Skimming
Contactless payments are one of the most practical ways to use an implanted microchip. However, this application means users are theoretically always vulnerable to skimming. Cybercriminals could intercept financial information if they get close enough to the implant, and because it’s essentially part of the user’s body, physical protections are minimal.
Thankfully, while skimming has garnered much attention from RFID-blocking wallets, it’s not a common threat. NFC is even more secure, as it can only happen within four centimeters of the chip, making it difficult for criminals to get close enough. Still, the possibility may worry some consumers.
Malware
A more concerning threat is the risk of cybercriminals installing malware onto an implanted chip. Researchers have proved that it’s possible to transfer malware through NFC, even when the chip does not connect to an actively running device. Attackers may still need to get close to do so, but the damage might go far beyond skimming card details.
Malware could cause a chip to malfunction. Depending on what people use their microchips for, that could leave them locked out of rooms or unable to access some electronics. The malware could also spread to anything that connects to the implant, including smart home devices or users’ phones.
Data Privacy Concerns
Finally, storing sensitive data in a wirelessly accessible chip in people’s bodies raises privacy questions, especially when it comes to BCIs. A BCI could theoretically give companies access to brain data, even including users’ thoughts if technology advances enough.
A breach at a business storing its customers’ brainwaves could give criminals access to a massive amount of highly sensitive information. Even outside such an event, targeted advertising based on brain data may feel like a privacy violation. The possibility of government bodies accessing this information further complicates the ethical implications.
How Can Microchip Implants Become More Secure?
Given these risks, implanted chips should implement a few extra security measures to protect their users. More best practices will emerge as the technology develops, but there are still a few must-have options to include.
Zero-Trust Security
The companies offering microchip implants must adhere to zero-trust policies. Government agencies began requiring zero trust in 2021, and private businesses would be wise to adopt the same standards.
Zero-trust architecture treats every transaction as a possible breach, verifying all data transmissions before allowing them. It also restricts access permissions as much as possible. That level of attention and responsiveness is crucial for anything involving as much sensitive information and potential complications as a chip in users’ bodies.
Tighter Access Controls
Implementing stronger defenses for accessing the microchip and its connected services is also critical. Even a PIN is better than nothing. Hackers can brute-force through a four-digit code instantly, but they would still have to get within centimeters of an implanted NFC chip to do so.
Setting and changing a PIN and managing the information and permissions of an implanted chip should require more robust protections. Strong passwords and multi-factor authentication are essential. Services should also restrict access attempts to stop unauthorized users from changing what it takes to get into an implant-based system.
Functionality Limits
Finally, microchip implants will be more secure when they do less. While some organizations may not want to sacrifice functionality, limiting what a chip can do minimizes the ways an attacker can take advantage of it. Restricting long-range communications is vital for protection.
The most robust defense implanted chips have today is that they only work within a few centimeters. A microchip with remote accessibility or Wi-Fi functionality suddenly becomes vulnerable to a much wider range of attacks and potential entry points. Maintaining a relative air gap by relying on NFC or RFID and restricting the kinds of data a chip can access and transmit make them far safer.
Microchip Implants Are Exciting But Potentially Risky
Despite being around since the ‘90s, implanted microchip technology is still in its infancy. As this field grows and develops, its possibilities will expand, but so might its potential dangers.
Cybersecurity considerations must come before expanded functionality and adoption. When these systems follow a security-by-design approach, people can use them confidently and safely. Failing to consider such risks in design and implementation could lead to catastrophic consequences.
