Hackers may develop a 'computer virus' to infect human mind: Experts

" Synthetic biology" is accelerating "faster than computer technology", say experts who have warned that hackers could someday use it to develop a computer virus to bend human minds.

According to Andrew Hessel of Singularity University on US space agency NASA's research campus, "It could lead to a world where hackers could engineer viruses or bacteria to control human minds.

"This is one of the most powerful technologies in the world. Synthetic biology -- the writing of life. I advocate cells are living computers and DNA is a programming language.

"I want to see life programmed and used to solve global challenges so that humanity can achieve a sustainable relationship within the biosphere. It's growing fast. It will grow faster than computer technologies."

He predicts a world where people can "print" DNA, and even "decode" it. But he warned that viruses and bacteria send chemicals into human brains and could someday be used to influence, or even "control" people, 'Daily Mail' reported.

A literal virus -- injected into a "host" in the guise of a vaccine, say -- could be used to control behaviour, says Hessel who warns people "may've to learn how to counterattack" against such weapons.