Is SETI at Risk of Downloading a Malicious Virus from Outer Space?

Is SETI at risk of downloading a malicious virus from outer space? Could ET be living *right now* inside the Internet?

We take it for granted that the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) is a safe endeavor. Seriously, what could possibly go wrong with passively searching for interstellar radio signals? Unfortunately, the answer is quite a lot –- especially if the incoming signal contains something malicious, like a computer virus or Trojan horse.

And according to the experts, this isn't just idle speculation – the threat is very real. So, just how concerned to we need to be? Read more