Aliens could use the radio signals that we are trying to analyse with projects like Seti@home to hack into the world's computer infrastructure, D. Carrigan is warning.

That would mean that the signals have a hidden message that we fail to notice but that does succeed at hacking our computers. Carrigan advices that we act more carefully when analysing radio signals from outer space, using stand alone systems to prevent the alien worms from spreading.

How badly do we want to believe in the existence of intelligent life in space?

Carrigna's theory is fundamentally flawed, as F-Secure points out on its blog. Even if there is intelligent life closeby (say within 25 light year's range), it would take 25 years for the aliens to pick up human radio signals. They then need to analyse them and develop exploit code and send back a signal which again will take another 25 years to reach earth. By that time the computer architectures have fundamentally changed and the chance that the exploit still works is zero.

Most alien theories are easily deflated

Tags: aliens, SETI