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Hacking a Pacemaker
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"."
I'm sure glad the device in my eye (see my sig for details) is focused by the eye's muscles rather than electronics/motors. Some things shouldn't be networkable.
Oh yeah, the oblig: We are cyborg. You will be assimilated. resistance is not only futile but you won't resist, you'll beg to join us..
mcgrew's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest
The technology for that already exists; it's called a "gun". It replaced an older technology called an "arrow", which in turn was the replacement for an even older technology called the "javelin". There was also an older technology called a "sling" which was a peripheral device designed to increase the effectiveness of the original technology call the "rock".
People have been remotely killing other people for millions of years.
The article details how the researchers had to be within 2 inches of the pacemaker, and several thousands of dollars worth of equipment. I suspect there is an easier way to deactivate a pacemaker, find out what frequency they operate at. I've got an FM radio blocker, that is basically just a 100mhz oscillator, a potentiometer, and a battery. It works by canceling out a given frequency, thus letting me silence my neighbors stereo from 50ft away. I know the technique works for the 2.4ghz band, for blocking out wireless phone signals and whatnot. I suppose finding an oscillator in the high ghz range would suffice for 'killing' a pacemaker.
- Aetheral Research -
Working on the communications software for one of these devices, I can say for sure there is no encryption on at least one of them. A decision was made by the company to not worry about this issue at the moment.