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Are we being hacked by aliens?

Aliens could use the radio signals that we are trying to analyse with projects like Seti@home to hack into the world's computer infrastructure, D. Carrigan is warning.

That would mean that the signals have a hidden message that we fail to notice but that does succeed at hacking our computers. Carrigan advices that we act more carefully when analysing radio signals from outer space, using stand alone systems to prevent the alien worms from spreading.

How badly do we want to believe in the existence of intelligent life in space?

Carrigna's theory is fundamentally flawed, as F-Secure points out on its blog. Even if there is intelligent life closeby (say within 25 light year's range), it would take 25 years for the aliens to pick up human radio signals. They then need to analyse them and develop exploit code and send back a signal which again will take another 25 years to reach earth. By that time the computer architectures have fundamentally changed and the chance that the exploit still works is zero.

Alien

Most alien theories are easily deflated

Tags: aliens, SETI

November 29, 2005 at 08:23 PM | Permalink

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» SETI@home Hacked By Aliens! from Connected Internet News | Broadband Mobile Gaming News
Well it hasn't happened yet, but The Guardian Unlimited reports that particle physicist Richard Carrigan has warned that ET and his buddies could use [Read More]

Tracked on 29 Nov 2005 23:45:13

Comments

Ever get the feeling that the most convincing proof that highly-intelligent life exists in the cosmos is the fact that they HAVEN'T made contact with us?

Posted-by: penguin | 29 Nov 2005 23:47:52

RE: penguin

All the time

Posted-by: SV Sleuth | 30 Nov 2005 00:19:48

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