Scientists work to keep hackers out of implanted medical devices
Technology hacking has become a bigger problem within the last few years. However, this problem may extend beyond internet hacking. Since medical devices such as insulin pumps, pacemakers, and cardiac defibrillators rely on wireless signals, they are susceptible to hackers.
Researchers from the University of Washington, Harvard Medical School and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst successful accessed a cardiac defibrillator in 2008. Personal information was taken from the device with the ability to alter the heart rhythms. Possible solutions to device hacking problems seem to only create more inconveniences. "If you have a patient that's unconscious on the ground, you really don't want the medical staff to have to figure out what security system they're using," Tamara Denning, a PhD student at the University of Washington stated. If devices had passwords, nurses and doctors would need access to the device in emergency situations. Tattooing a barcode in either visible or ultraviolet sensitive ink on the patient’s skin was a suggestion. Password bearing bracelets or doctor devices that would overpower security protections were more possibilities. Security protections would fall under the device manufacturer’s responsibility but standard security measures would need to be applied.
"If your computer fails, no one dies," Nathanael Paul, user of an insulin pump remarked. "If your insulin pump fails, you have problems. I think this article is interesting because the concept of a “health hacker” could exist in the near future. While medical device hacking isn’t a present threat, I think it is an issue that if addressed early, can be fixed before any serious consequence occurs. It is a little unnerving to think that someone would want to inflict fatal harm upon someone’s health. The article suggested possible reasons such as financial gain or damage to a company’s reputation.
Article by John D. Sutter CNN April 16, 2010
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/04/16/medical.device.security/index.html
Researchers from the University of Washington, Harvard Medical School and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst successful accessed a cardiac defibrillator in 2008. Personal information was taken from the device with the ability to alter the heart rhythms. Possible solutions to device hacking problems seem to only create more inconveniences. "If you have a patient that's unconscious on the ground, you really don't want the medical staff to have to figure out what security system they're using," Tamara Denning, a PhD student at the University of Washington stated. If devices had passwords, nurses and doctors would need access to the device in emergency situations. Tattooing a barcode in either visible or ultraviolet sensitive ink on the patient’s skin was a suggestion. Password bearing bracelets or doctor devices that would overpower security protections were more possibilities. Security protections would fall under the device manufacturer’s responsibility but standard security measures would need to be applied.
"If your computer fails, no one dies," Nathanael Paul, user of an insulin pump remarked. "If your insulin pump fails, you have problems. I think this article is interesting because the concept of a “health hacker” could exist in the near future. While medical device hacking isn’t a present threat, I think it is an issue that if addressed early, can be fixed before any serious consequence occurs. It is a little unnerving to think that someone would want to inflict fatal harm upon someone’s health. The article suggested possible reasons such as financial gain or damage to a company’s reputation.
Article by John D. Sutter CNN April 16, 2010
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/04/16/medical.device.security/index.html
posted by Carrie Pottmeyer at 2:17 PM
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