Deadly warning with implants

It sounds like the plot of a modern horror action movie, but security experts claim that many implanted medical devices can be attacked through the network, even causing death. people.

Actual statistics show that the number of transplant patients with devices such as pacemakers (pacemaker) and insulin pumps is increasing. Therefore, cyber criminals have begun to keep an eye on remote control of devices of this type. The reason is that the implants still use an unprotected wireless connection to update and upgrade.

These implantable devices can slip
Go to the hacker and turn into a killer tool.

After gaining access to the device, the hacker will be able to turn off the device or order it to inject a dangerous dose for the patient, possibly causing them to die if they want to.

Security expert Barnaby Jack of McAfee revealed on BBC that although no such attacks have occurred in practice, implant manufacturers still need to seriously protect their devices from the conspiracy. dark. Jack said he could attack a well-known insulin pump in the market after only two weeks by attacking its radio signal, via a small-sized antenna. Jack can also disable security alerts - which alert users to abnormalities that occur.

'We can control all pumping equipment within 90 meters , ' said Jack. 'We can make the pump for all 300 units of its insulin store into the patient's blood and we can do that without the device ID number.'

Typically, an insulin dose is only 5-10 units (after meals) to regulate blood sugar. Therefore, discharging to 300 units can cause serious problems for patients.

'These devices are like computers, can be easily exploited but are rarely noticed' , Jack explained. 'Their indifference is really shocking'.