Next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) is rapidly transforming the landscape of modern biotechnology, empowering groundbreaking advancements in fields ranging from precision medicine and cancer diagnostics to infectious disease surveillance and agricultural innovation. This technology, which enables the rapid and high-throughput sequencing of DNA and RNA, is revolutionizing how researchers understand genetic information at an unprecedented scale and speed. However, as a newly published study in IEEE Access reveals, the immense power and pervasiveness of NGS also expose critical vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors. If left unsecured, these vulnerabilities pose significant risks not only to individual privacy but also to scientific integrity, national security, and the future of global biosecurity.
The research, spearheaded by Dr. Nasreen Anjum from the University of Portsmouth’s School of Computing, marks the first comprehensive investigation into the cyber-biosecurity challenges inherent across the entire NGS workflow. Unlike traditional cybersecurity threats that target conventional IT infrastructures, cyber-biosecurity in the context of NGS requires an interdisciplinary understanding that spans genomics, bioinformatics, software engineering, and cyber defense. The sequencing pipeline encompasses a complex series of interrelated stages, starting from biological sample preparation and sequencing chemistry, followed by intricate data processing, storage, and ultimately interpretation. Each phase utilizes specialised instruments, software tools, and networked systems, which collectively create multiple nodes of potential exposure to cyber threats.
At its core, NGS involves converting biological samples into digital data — a transformation that introduces unique security concerns. As sequencing platforms generate massive volumes of raw genomic data, these datasets often travel across cloud platforms, bioinformatics pipelines, and institutional repositories that may not uniformly adhere to stringent security protocols. This multidimensional exposure magnifies the risk of data interception, alteration, or theft by unauthorized entities. Alarmingly, many DNA datasets are publicly or semi-publicly accessible, allowing cybercriminals to exploit sensitive information for surveillance purposes, manipulate genomic data for deceptive ends, or engineer novel biothreats.
One particularly alarming vector identified by the research team is the possibility of embedding malicious code within synthetic DNA strands, a concept known as DNA-encoded malware. Such payloads, upon sequencing, could bypass traditional cybersecurity defenses and execute harmful operations on sequencing device software or downstream analysis environments. Combined with advances in artificial intelligence, hackers could manipulate genome datasets, embedding false information or generating sophisticated genome edits that escape detection. Moreover, identity tracing through genome re-identification techniques could expose individuals’ private health information, raising severe ethical and privacy concerns.
Dr. Anjum emphasizes that protecting genomic data extends far beyond simple encryption or conventional firewalls. The challenge demands a radical paradigm shift, anticipating cyber-attacks that have yet to be conceptualized. To truly secure the future of precision medicine, cybersecurity experts, bioinformaticians, and biotechnologists must unify their efforts to develop multilayered, anticipatory defense frameworks. This study aims to galvanize the scientific and security communities by delivering a systematic mapping of existing and emergent cyber-biosecurity threats throughout the NGS process, laying a vital foundation for meaningful mitigation strategies.
The collaborative nature of this research underscores its global significance. Partners from the Department of Computer Science at Anglia Ruskin University, the University of Gloucestershire’s Department of Cyber Security and Computing, the Department of Computer Science at Najran University, and the Microbiology Department at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University contributed their expertise, reflecting the interdisciplinary and international scope needed to address these risks comprehensively. Microbiologist Dr. Mahreen-Ul-Hassan of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University aptly describes genomic data as “one of the most personal forms of data we have,” highlighting the profound implications if such data were compromised.
Among the novel threats outlined, synthetic DNA-encoded malware stands out as a particularly insidious technique. By encoding malicious software instructions directly into the DNA sequence, hackers could effectively weaponize the biological material itself. When sequenced, this DNA could deliver executable code into sequencing machine firmware or data analysis algorithms, initiating unauthorized commands or data corruption. This convergence of biotechnology and cyber intrusion blurs traditional security boundaries and demands new interdisciplinary safeguards.
To counter these looming dangers, the researchers advocate for a suite of practical interventions. Secure sequencing protocols must be established to minimize vulnerabilities during sample handling and instrument operation. Data at rest and in transit requires robust encryption, with meticulous access control to deter unauthorized retrieval. AI-powered anomaly detection systems offer promise for real-time identification of suspicious data patterns or behavior anomalies indicative of cyber attacks. These combined efforts can bolster resilience but necessitate dedicated funding, policy development, and cross-sector communication.
Currently, cyber-biosecurity remains a fledgling field that has not received commensurate attention relative to its critical importance. The fragmented nature of protections, inconsistent regulations, and siloed approach among disciplines create an environment ripe for exploitation. Dr. Anjum calls for governments, regulatory agencies, academic institutions, and funding bodies to prioritize this domain urgently. Without a coordinated and sustained commitment, the potentially devastating consequences of genomic data breaches could manifest in surveillance abuses, discrimination, and even biological terrorism.
Ultimately, the research presented in IEEE Access serves as a clarion call to rethink and reinforce how genomic information is managed and secured. The authors underscore that interdisciplinary collaboration—bridging computer science, bioinformatics, biotechnology, and security domains—is essential to build the defenses necessary for a secure biotechnological future. By mapping the landscape of risks and proposing actionable solutions, this study pioneers a roadmap toward a safer, more trustworthy deployment of next-generation sequencing technologies worldwide.
As NGS continues to underpin breakthroughs in personalized healthcare, agriculture, and forensic science, safeguarding the integrity and confidentiality of genomic data takes on paramount importance. The emerging cyber-biosecurity threats articulated in this study highlight that the security of our biological information is inseparable from the broader fabric of digital and national security. Protecting this vital data commodity will require bold innovation, a united global effort, and proactive policymaking, ensuring that the immense benefits of DNA sequencing are not overshadowed by emerging cyber risks.
Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: Not provided
News Publication Date: 17-Mar-2025
Web References:
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=10930454
- https://ieeeaccess.ieee.org/about-ieee-access/learn-more-about-ieee-access/
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3552069
References:
Anjum, N. et al. “Cyber-Biosecurity Threats in Next-Generation Sequencing Workflow,” IEEE Access, 2025.
Image Credits: Not provided
Keywords:
- Genomic DNA
- Genetic technology
