2024-07-11 20:34:08
They save lives, but if they are attacked by hackers, it can be fatal. Researchers are calling for more information about cyber attacks on pacemakers.
More than 70,000 pacemakers are implanted in Germany every year. The device helps people whose hearts beat too slowly. Modern implants work wirelessly and transmit information digitally. Researchers are now warning that the devices could be hacked.
As the “Ärzteblatt” reports, scientists at the University of Trier are calling for patients to be informed about the risks of a cyber attack. According to the report, those affected are informed about the medical risks of the pacemaker, but are not informed about the dangers of cyber attacks.
“Modern cardiac implants that transmit information wirelessly improve patients’ quality of life and autonomy, but they can also bring new dangers from cyberattacks,” explained Leanne Torgersen, lead author of the study. A digital network can be hacked, which could lead to the loss of sensitive data and control over the implant.
Therefore, cyber risk factors should be included in patient consent forms and continually reviewed as new risk information becomes available.
In the past, there have been repeated reports of security gaps in the products. If they are exploited by hackers, this can, in the worst case, be fatal.