"The Life-or-Death Importance of Medical Device Security"

Cybersecurity researcher Alex Vakulov emphasizes that cybersecurity is not always a top priority when developing smart medical devices. Many are easily connected to the Internet, are often found to have simple passwords, and occasionally do not require passwords at all. This lack of security is a significant issue because it enables hackers to break into the devices themselves, infiltrate hospital systems, and unleash malicious software. According to a report published by Cynerio in 2021, ransomware attacks on healthcare facilities increased by 123 percent, with more than 500 attacks costing over $21 billion. The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is a subset of the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT connects various devices, including smartphones, wearables, and industrial sensors, whereas IoMT focuses solely on medical devices. Both use cloud-based storage and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered communication to share data. However, IoMT takes it further by helping healthcare professionals assess, diagnose, treat, and track patients' conditions. Hackers target IoMT devices and systems to steal sensitive information, which they could then hold for ransom or sell on the dark web. This article continues to discuss Vakulov's insights on typical security issues associated with connected medical devices and some best practices for securing them.

CACM reports "The Life-or-Death Importance of Medical Device Security"