Threat intelligence research group Insikt Group, part of Recorded Future, has published a report warning that neurological and biometric data collected by neurotechnology systems is likely to become an increasingly attractive target for cybercriminals and state-linked actors.
The report, titled “Emerging Threats to Neurotechnology”, argues that as neurotechnology moves beyond clinical settings into commercial products and platforms, the volume of brain activity, biometric and behavioural data being collected will expand rapidly. That shift, it says, broadens the potential attack surface and increases the opportunities for theft, misuse and exploitation.
Recorded Future’s Alexander Leslie, Senior Government Affairs Advisor, said organisations in the sector should prioritise continuous monitoring, vetting and strict access controls to reduce the risk of industrial espionage and insider threats. “Organisations operating in the neurotechnology field should establish rigorous continuous monitoring, vetting, and data access controls to counter industrial espionage and malicious insiders attempting to smuggle proprietary neurotech IP out of the organisation,” he said. Leslie added that Insikt Group recommends auditing external manufacturing partners, hardware vendors and “subsidised software ecosystems” to reduce the risk of unauthorised access, including potential backdoors.
According to the report summary shared with media, one expected driver of cyber risk is intellectual property theft. It says neurotechnology firms are likely to face increased targeting because of the strategic and financial value of their research and development, with state-sponsored espionage and insider threats cited as key concerns. Military and higher education research laboratories are also flagged as potential targets for access to related R&D and data.
The report also points to extortion and surveillance risks linked to the exfiltration of neurological and biometric datasets. It argues that the sensitivity of such data could make breaches particularly damaging to both individuals and companies, potentially increasing its value to attackers seeking leverage for extortion.
In addition to data theft, the report highlights the prospect of disruption-focused attacks against neurotechnology devices and their supporting software, including remote monitoring systems, mobile applications and cloud platforms that collect and interpret neurological data. It notes that tampering could lead to inaccurate readings and downstream harm, particularly where devices have medical applications.
Legal and privacy exposure is another focus, with the report arguing that regulatory scrutiny of neurological data could translate into increased penalties if organisations do not implement sufficient protections. It also flags emerging legal questions linked to consumer neurotechnology and workplace use, including whether employers should be permitted to collect employees’ brain data.
The report additionally raises national security issues associated with neurotechnology’s dual-use potential, including implications for export controls and other regulatory regimes.
The full report, “Emerging Threats to Neurotechnology”, is available from Recorded Future’s Insikt Group.
You can read the full report here.
