Slashdot recently featured a CNN Money article about using the brain to control computers, beaming data directly into the mind and instant thought transfer. All of which raises major security and privacy concerns.

While I don't doubt that at some time such technologies may at some point become standard, I really wonder how much consideration security is being given at this point. How secure will these technologies be and how much privacy will we be able to expect?

The legal system still hasn't fully caught up with the Internet age; a large number of politicians, lawyers and judges are essentially clueless; law enforcement seems increasingly keen on eavesdropping and performing surveillance; all the while, you have all sorts of attackers trying to snoop data or cause damage for fun and/or profit.

Will the legal system catch up and will computer literacy improve before such technologies are ready for mass deployment? How will communications be secured? Will everything be encrypted? If so, is there any chance for deniability or will all messages be signed and authenticatable? Will there be a means to employ some sort of firewall? Would there be a possibility of a DDoS and what kind of consequences would that have?

Hearing about such technology brings far too many questions to mind. I'll tell you what, though. I sure as hell won't be the first kid on my block to to start using it.

Updated 9 Jun 2007:
Scientists have succeeded in storing data in live neurons. As this is developed further, it, too, will raise security concerns.