The Insecure Pacemaker: FDA Issues Guidance for Wireless Medical Device Security 26 August 2013 The concept of a hacker causing a heart attack by remotely compromising a pacemaker or shutting down an insulin pump on a diabetic is unfortunately not in the realm of science fiction, with very real vulnerabilities having been found in connected medical devices. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now addressing the issue with a 24-page set of recommendations for regulating medical devices with wireless connectivity. The recently deceased security researcher Barnaby Jack brought security concerns around medical devices to the forefront by stopping an insulin pump remotely, live on stage at the Hacker Halted conference in 2011. Jack demonstrated how he could scan radio frequencies and access implanted insulin pumps within a 300-meter range. Jack used his friend, , in the audience to demonstrate how he could then control the insulin dispersed remotely, or shut it down. Last year, he demonstrated that several vendors’ pacemakers can be remotely controlled and commanded to deliver a 830-volt shock via a laptop, thanks to software programming flaws on the part of medical device companies. The researcher noted that the vulnerabilities open the door to “mass murder.” infosecurity-magazine/view/34151/the-insecure-pacemaker-fda-issues-guidance-for-wireless-medical-device-security
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 18:21:13 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015