Passing Go with DNA Sequencing: Delivering Messages in a Covert Transgenic Channel

DNA which carries genetic information in living organisms has become a new steganographic carrier of secret information. Various researchers have used this technique to try to develop watermarks to be used to protect proprietary products, however, as recent advances in genetic engineering have made it possible to use DNA as a carrier of information, we have realized that DNA steganography in the living organism also facilitates a new, stealthy cyber-attack that could be used nefariously to bypass entrance control systems that monitor and screen for files and electronic devices. In this paper, we explain how "DNA-courier" attacks could easily be carried out to defeat existing monitoring and screening techniques. Using our proposed method, we found that DNA as a steganographic carrier of secret information poses a realistic cyber-attack threat by enabling secret messages to be sent to an intended recipient without being noticed by third parties.