Chalk this up to super-creepy: scientists have discovered a way to mind-read personal secrets, such as bank PIN numbers and personal associations, using a cheap headset. Utilizing commercial brain-wave reading devices, often used for hands-free gaming, the researchers discovered that they could identify when subjects recognized familiar objects, faces, or locations, which helped them better guess sensitive information. Security interrogators could benefit most immediately from the new brain hacking technique, since it would reveal when suspects are actually familiar with the face of a potential accomplice. As for bank information, scientists could guess the first PIN number only 40% of the time. But, as brain-controlled devices become more common, the researches warn that viruses could discretely display images on a screen and help tech-savvy thieves narrow down their search for private information.
