Neurosecurity: where Infosec meets Brain-machine Interface

Presented at BSidesLV 2019, Aug. 6, 2019, 6 p.m. (55 minutes).

Direct brain-machine interface (BMI) has moved from science fiction to daily fact,and a new frontier of Infosec is emerging: neurosecurity. Invasive and non-invasive BMIs now augment operators in many walks of life. Neuroimplants treat an range of neurological and psychiatric conditions: traditionally chronic pain, depression, Parkinson's, and recently obesity and drug addiction. Advances in neural and neuronal interface now allow direct connections to machinery (computers, robotics, cars, artificial limbs, etc.) providing either human control of the machine, or introduction of machine data into the human. Apple iOS devices are two years into being the largest digital ecosystem to directly support information feeds to brain-connected implants A patent search reveals that over 3800 patents were filed for BMI technology in 2018 alone. Entirely new attack surfaces are therefore available to be exploited by malicious cyber-criminals, making the security of these devices of paramount importance, and not a consideration to be ignored until these attacks have already occurred.This presentation will chronicle and categorize present and near-future threats, known and potential countermeasures, and cut through hyperbole and sensationalism to expose and discuss the reality of the emerging neurosecurity landscape.


Presenters:

  • Ben D Sawyer
    Dr. Ben D. Sawyer is an applied neuroscientist and human factors engineer known for using brainwaves, eye movements, and mathematical theory to build better human-machine teams. His models and algorithms power trustworthy machines that work with their human partners. His design recommendations are leveraged by Fortune 500 companies. His work has been covered by Forbes, Reuters, Fast Company, and The BBC. With the US Air Force, he studied the mathematical underpinnings of attention in cyberdefense. At MIT his work focused upon designing superior connections between humans and machines. At UCF, where he is Faculty in Industrial Engineering and Director of LabX, he works to optimize, or disrupt, these connections.
  • Matt Canham
    Former supervisory agent with the FBI, PhD in Cognitive Psychology, deep expertise in infosec, and a faculty position at UCF's IST group. there, Matt is a member of LabX (Laboratory for Autonomy-Brain Exchange), and works with UCF's own infosec groups to build large-scale experiments into what makes individuals susceptible to cyberattack.

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