S4 - Episode 004 – Human IOT: Sub-Molecular DNA Cybersecurity (w/ Dr. Gregory Carpenter)

In this electrifying episode of the Cyber Distortion Podcast, hosts Kevin Pentecost and Jason Popillion dive into the fascinating crossroads of cybersecurity, health, and molecular science with a very special guest — Dr. Gregory Carpenter. Known worldwide for his pioneering research and groundbreaking work at the intersection of biotechnology and cybersecurity, Dr. Carpenter brings a unique and urgent perspective on the growing risks and innovations tied to DNA hacking and cybersecurity at the molecular level.

Together, they explore how advances in genetics, bioinformatics, and synthetic biology are creating new vulnerabilities — and why protecting health data and even the biological code of life itself has become a critical frontier for cybersecurity professionals. Dr. Carpenter shares real-world insights, discusses current threats and emerging trends, and offers his expert take on where regulation, technology, and human ingenuity must evolve to stay ahead of threats we are only beginning to understand.

Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation that bridges the digital and biological worlds — and challenges how we think about security in an era where data isn’t just on servers, but in our very cells. Whether you're a cybersecurity expert, a health industry professional, or just fascinated by where technology is taking us next, this is one episode you won't want to miss!

Jason Popillion is a CISSP and serves as a CIO/CTO of a SaaS company and Kevin Pentecost is a CISSP, CISM, CEH, CPT, MPCS, MCSE, CCA, ITIL-F and serves as the Information Security Director for a Manufacturing company.

 

🔗 Citations and Related Links:

• Biomalware: Malware Encoded in DNA
  Wired – https://www.wired.com/story/malware-dna-hack/
• Scientists Hack a Computer Using DNA
  MIT Technology Review – https://www.technologyreview.com/2017/08/10/150013/scientists-hack-a-computer-using-dna/
• Healing the Body with Sound Frequencies
  Donovan Health – https://www.donovanhealth.com/blog/healing-the-body-with-frequencies-the-basics-explained
• Dire Wolves and Woolly Mammoths: Concerns About Resurrecting Extinct Species
  BBC Future – https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250425-why-scientists-fear-attempts-to-resurrect-extinct-animals-may-backfire
• DEFCON Conference (Official Site)
  https://defcon.org/
• CRISPR and the Threat of Biohacking
  Harvard International Review – https://hir.harvard.edu/crispr-and-the-threat-of-biohacking/
• Cyberbiosecurity: An Emerging New Discipline to Help Safeguard the Bioeconomy
  Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology – https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00020/full
• The Growing Threat of Biosecurity Risks in Synthetic Biology
  RAND Corporation – https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR3027.html