Discussion on:

Black Hat demo shows vulnerability of insulin pumps to remote attack

Has someone pumped him for information yet?

:0)

If they've tested things like morphine pumps or spinal cord stimulators.

that can control people now too. I know one of the developers. They are worried that these things could surreptitiously be implanted on persons of interest during routine surgery for anything else. This apparently started as a D.A.R.P.A. project. Adjust your tin foil hat on that one.

I'm not worried about anything like that as much as all the other devices, like my hybrid automobile that they could fully hack and probably do! Jimmy the traction controls and/or the break regeneration commands, and I could be dead meat!

Pacemakers already have wireless features, so they can be hacked as well. If it has a computer chip, someone out there is trying to find or has found a way to get in!!

It's really scary not only that this can happen but that somebody reading this column might think it's an interesting challenge.

Being a person using a pump and CMD myself, it is an unsettling thought that someone would be stupid enough to hack it.

Looks like there could be a vast market for 'watchdog' chips in the so called Internet of Things. I don't know if it's possible to embed a firewall in a pacemaker, but on less power savvy medical electronics it should be feasible. Electromedical safety standards should include penetration tests.

I was just reading about Apple laptop batteries--they contain smart chips that can be reprogrammed to overcharge and catch fire, or serve as a reservoir for a virus. Apparently, the example code for this contains a default password that was never changed in the actual implementation. Something similar could be done with optical drives, for example--imagine a DVD drive that would automatically install a root kit when accessed a certain way.

why would you post such an article--now for sure all the unconscionable computer hackers will have a try at it??? the first time it happens we can point a finger at you.

Just think what would happen in a ICU or CCU Ward because these devices are not Significantly Hardened.

Great to see Proof Finally that the Medical Suppliers are completely failing to follow the Laws here about the equipment that they supply.

Col

Yet another layer of dependency.

Consideration of Risk in the device design nowithstanding, someone could also bash him with a rock. You can get those anywhere.

The joys of being connected 24/7.

Make sure you don't earn or have enough money the someone would find profitability in hacking your medical device. Contact your lawyer right away and start a class action suit against the medical device manufacturer for making if vulnerable. No wait then you might have money worth extorting. Better still contact the insurance companies and tell them they will have to pay out if someone dies, they have the money and will to force the device manufacturers to fix the loop hole. No wait they will just put a no pay for hacker clause in the policy.
I guess there is no solutions unless we can change the human factor. As long as humans are basically greedy (and we all are to some degree) we will see the grass greener on the other side and will try to get there by whatever means possible. In the case of hackers that means at the expense of someone else, they see it easier to steal a buck than earn it. Perhaps the buck is the fundamental problem.

wonder if they will just attach some poor excuse for a firewall for protection or do it right and root the devices themselves?? warfare has truly come to the cyberfront