Cybersecurity Threats in Brain-Computer Interfaces: Safeguarding Neural Data
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63075/jzmt4n46Abstract
The most disruptive technology in neuromathematics and technology is the Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), through which the human brain is directly in touch with the external devices. Since their introduction, BCIs have become used in large volumes of highly sensitive neural data in more fields of application in healthcare, rehabilitation, defense and human augmentation. Although the developments are perceived to be of paramount benefits, they also present unrivalled cybersecurity risks that may interfere with user privacy, security and autonomy. Unlike traditional biometric information, the neural signals can make use of certain data that are unique to each like cognitive functions, emotive responses and even decision-making patterns, and therefore their protection should be prioritized. The cybersecurity threats associated with BCIs are reviewed in this review that surrounded the vulnerability in the acquisition of signals, transmission, and storage. The possible threats include the presence of unauthorized access, signal manipulation, malware attacks, breach of the cloud, and the probability of identity theft because of neural profiling. The review determines the possible neurological harm due to the lack of security of BCIs and compares the examples that exist and gives parallels to cyberattacks on medical equipment that lead not only to the data breach but also directly to neurological damage. Neural information protection requires a multidisciplinary approach, which includes encryption technology, authentication tests, data storage in the blockchain, and privacy-saving models of computation. Besides technical solutions, the ethics and regulatory processes are also at a desperate need of giving responsibility and safeguarding the neural information. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in the area of threat detection combined with the policy-making of the international order is essential in the future concerning the future of BCIs. The article provides a profound reflection of cybersecurity problems of BCIs because the protection of neural data is not only a technical necessity, but a moral necessity, to be able to trust, be safe, and have ethical applications of neurotechnology in the society.
Keywords: Brain-Computer Interfaces, Neural Data Security, Cybersecurity Threats, Data Encryption, Signal Manipulation, Blockchain, Privacy Preservation, Artificial Intelligence, Neuro-Cyber Warfare, Ethical Frameworks.
