tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994427407900128692.post5979529010273630712..comments2024-01-27T01:31:45.582-08:00Comments on THE RUNAGATES CLUB: Aurora Cyber-Attack - destroyed $Million dollar generatorRonald J. Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07435431062943796717noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994427407900128692.post-61230300591664738922008-03-12T19:44:00.000-07:002008-03-12T19:44:00.000-07:00More than money is at stake. Live could hang in t...More than money is at stake. Live could hang in the balance. Computers have germinated almost every aspect of our lives. It is difficult to do anything now days without a computer being involved. Hacking of computers and networks has grown to epidemic proportions and continues to spread virtually unchecked. Computers are no stranger to the healthcare profession. Computerized imaging, blood analysis and heart monitoring have been around for years. That being said, threat of compromised<BR/>or contaminated hardware and software has taking on an increased sense of urgency<BR/>lately. <BR/><BR/>Medical devices such as pace-makers, defibrillators and other medical devices communicate over short distances via radio waves. This is required for changing setting and other critical functions as they permit doctors and other healthcare providers to monitor and even tweak the settings as needed without the need for surgery. While beneficial, this communication can be exploited for more sinister activities.<BR/><BR/>On March 12 2008 the Wall Street Journal reported that a doctor had teamed up with a computer scientist to hack into an ICD (implantable cardio defibrillator) that was introduced into the U.S. market back in 2003. The hacking team reversed engineered the communication protocol used to remotely access the device they reconnected to the ICD and attacked it in such a way that could compromise patient safety. This is quite concerning given Pacing and ICDs are increasingly being used in the management of arrhythmias and a number of different cardiac conditions.<BR/><BR/>A most likely attack scenario in one cyber security expert’s opinion is a portable computer with radio frequency communications capability armed with malicious code that would reprogram an implanted pacemaker being used in highly populated areas or events. Reprogramming must take place very close to the device so this would not be a massive attack weapon, but possibly a cyber assassination tool.<BR/><BR/>This is yet another warning sign how exposed we are to cyber attacks. Manufacturers should take security precautions to prevent malicious code being inserted during production of all computer controlled equipment. While we are not aware of any actual events of medical device tampering or hacking, there are other devices<BR/>that recently were found to have been contaminated with malicious code at the point of manufacture and shipped to businesses and consumers. It should also be noted that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has the oversight on medical devices and has stringent approval requirements that must be met as well as ongoing<BR/>monitoring and reporting of any issues or problems encountered.Spy Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12258043023356219164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7994427407900128692.post-40135580201794698852008-01-19T10:25:00.000-08:002008-01-19T10:25:00.000-08:00We've been talking about these threats and risks f...We've been talking about these threats and risks for well over half a decade now. Maybe now people will start to take our concerns seriously.Adriel Desautelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16119732948300414743noreply@blogger.com