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Hacking a Pacemaker

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the probably-not-the-best-idea dept.

jonkman sean writes "University researchers conducted research into how they can gain wireless access to pacemakers, hacking them. They will be presenting their findings at the "Attacks" session of the 2008 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy. Their previous work (PDF) noted that over 250,000 implantable cardiac defibrillators are installed in patients each year. This subject was first raised along with similar issues as a credible security risk in Gadi Evron's CCC Camp 2007 lecture "hacking the bionic man"."

1 of 228 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Don't fear.... much by NIckGorton · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'm not so sure about that (speaking as an ER physician who would generally be the one saying WTF is the password???)

    In the worst case scenarios, either 1) put a donut magnet over it and it can be stopped or 2) give me a scalpel and 30 seconds and I can cut the leads, and then we can externally pace and/or defibrillate the person.

    So I am not sure that the risk of being password protected would outweigh the risk of not being password protected. I'd want mine password protected, then put the password on a medic-alert bracelet that I wear.