Dubai: Man with 11 chip implants can hack phone, access details in just 4 seconds

Dubai: Len Noe, an ethical hacker from the US, has taken cybersecurity to an entirely new level. With 11 microchips embedded in his body, Noe has become a walking security expert, capable of accessing private information with a mere handshake.

He has implants from his elbows to his fingers, including a magnet among others.

The 50-year-old grandfather, who boasts a past filled with motorcycle club affiliations, ‘mischievous’ hacking, and body modifications, now spends his time sharing his knowledge on augmented humans and cybersecurity threats.

But this is a story one wouldn’t expect upon first glance. At first sight, the long-bearded biker with a cold stare might give the impression of a hardened warlord. However, when he opens up, Noe shatters all stereotypes. “I used to ride a Harley. Most people think I’m aggressive. But anyone who gets to know me will tell you I’m a teddy bear with big fangs,” Noe told Gulf News, while on a visit to Dubai.

From being a black hat hacker, he has mended his ways following the birth of his granddaughter.

“I was black hat, but not a malicious hacker. I've never compromised any places that I've worked.”

Taking about the life-changing moment, he said: “I have five daughters, four grandsons and two granddaughters. It wasn't until they handed me my granddaughter for the first time, where the minute I looked at her, it was acknowledging every mistake that I had ever made.”

Hack your phone in 4 seconds

While becoming an ethical hacker, and working at CyberArk Software as a technical evangelist, Noe is now spreading the word on the potential future of human-computer integration. Among his 11 implants include chips that work with radio frequency identification (RFID) and near-field communication (NFC) technology, allowing him to unlock office doors, store crypto wallet keys, pay bills over the counter, and even perform cybersecurity tasks.

“I have my own credit card chip. I go to the counter and just tap my hand.”

These implants, which he calls ‘bio-glass’ and ‘flex membranes’, are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and are inserted into his body with minimal fuss.

Noe noted that he can with a simple touch, hack a phone in as little as four seconds.

“Just by you putting your phone into my hand, I can download Trojan viruses onto your phone. I can connect you to a website with BeEF (the Browser Exploitation Extension Framework). And I can hack your phone while it’s in my hand, and I’m already in your phone before I give it back to you. The quickest I’ve ever done it is about four seconds.”

His expertise doesn’t stop at phones as he can also bypass physical security systems.

“I can skim data from a badge [office ID] and write it onto my implant, allowing me to unlock doors or access restricted areas. And when security checks me, they won’t find anything because I’m not carrying any tools,” he said.

What’s more, if someone flashes a ticket to Coldplay concert or an India-Pakistan cricket match, he can get access to that digital ticket as well.

“Yes, there’s a little process. There’s some skill involved here, but yes, I can do that.”

Noe’s implants are not just for hacking, though. As an ethical hacker, he uses them to enhance his own security, such as storing his one-time passwords (OTPs).

How it all began?

His journey into augmented security began in 2019 when he first heard about implantable microchips at a tattoo parlour in Amsterdam. Intrigued, he spent time researching the technology and its legal implications before proceeding with his first implant in 2020.

“Microchip implants are treated like jewellery in most countries, including the US and the EU, which means they are not subject to the same regulations as medical devices,” he noted.

He now hopes that his work will help educate the common man about the risks of such technology, while also shedding light on its potential applications for improving personal security.

As a technical evangelist at CyberArk Software, Noe travels the world, speaking at conferences like GITEX in Dubai and more. He’s written a book titled Human Hacked: My Life and Lessons as the World’s First Augmented Ethical Hacker and has a documentary in the works, titled I Am Machine, which will further explore the implications of human augmentation.

With the rise of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity threats becoming increasingly sophisticated, Noe believes that the next generation of hackers might not rely on traditional tools but on implants and augmented capabilities. “In five years, people will look at what I’m doing and think, ‘That’s nothing,’” Noe predicted. “I’m just the first to come out and say it: augmented humans are here.”

On Thursday, he will be making a presentation at CyberArk Impact World Tour in Dubai.