Potential Initial Alien Intrusion might Manifest as Extra-terrestrial Computer Malware
In the event of receiving messages from extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI), rigorous precautions are necessary to prevent potential contamination and ensure the integrity of the extraterrestrial message. This is vital for the protection of Earth and the preservation of the information contained within the message.
Physical and Biological Decontamination
If a physical artifact or medium, such as a data storage device, is received, it should be handled in a high-level biosafety laboratory, like a BSL-4, to prevent potential extraterrestrial pathogens from contaminating terrestrial life. All incoming materials should also be screened for hazardous chemicals or radioactive substances before any handling or analysis. Quarantine protocols should be in place until the materials are confirmed safe by multiple independent analyses.
Message Analysis Precautions
Digital messages received in electronic or digital form should be isolated from critical networks and systems to avoid malware or unintended consequences. They should be analyzed in secure, air-gapped environments with robust cybersecurity protocols. A multi-disciplinary team, including cryptographers, linguists, biologists, and ethicists, should review the analysis to identify any hidden risks, deception, or unintended information hazards.
Information Safety and Societal Impact
Information should be carefully vetted before public release to avoid panic, misinformation, or misuse. International collaboration, coordinated by the United Nations or another international body, should ensure transparency and prevent unilateral action. All steps should also be reviewed by a committee representing diverse global stakeholders, addressing potential ethical, legal, and societal impacts.
Special Considerations
If the message contains technology instructions, there should be safeguards against accidental self-replicating or harmful technology. Analysis should also consider the potential for unintended misinterpretation of cultural or symbolic content.
These precautions are informed by scientific protocols for planetary protection, biosafety, and information security, as well as ongoing research into sustainability and extraterrestrial exploration. While current practices largely focus on theoretical scenarios, they draw from established methods used in hazardous material decontamination and secure information handling.
In 2015, concerns were raised about accidentally impacting alien technology with messages we send into space. Dr. Anders Sanberg expressed his worry about malware being sent to aliens during a speech at the British Science Festival. The possibility of aliens sending messages in the form of learning AI is also considered, and isolation might be necessary to prevent the AI from spreading.
In the risk-averse case, complex messages would need to be destroyed after reception. However, in the event of an alien invasion or extraterrestrial malware, sending a copy of Windows 11 could be a potential solution. Messages sent repeatedly and unable to be controlled could pose a problem.
These guidelines are an extrapolation from best practices in related fields, but no specific protocols yet exist solely for ETI message analysis. As we continue to explore the cosmos, these precautions will serve as a foundation for managing the challenges and opportunities that may arise from contact with extraterrestrial intelligence.
Scientists should employ established protocols from space-and-astronomy, technology, and science to analyze messages from extraterrestrial intelligence. If received, physical artifacts or digital messages should be analyzed in secure, air-gapped environments with high-level biosafety, cybersecurity, and multi-disciplinary teams to ensure the safety of Earth and the preservation of the information contained within the message. Moreover, information should be carefully vetted before public release to prevent panic, misinformation, or misuse, and international collaboration is essential for transparency and to prevent unilateral action.
