Cyber attacks on medical devices a risk with wireless hospitals and devices...SOLUTION

US warns of cyber attacks on medical devices 

 

AFP - US authorities on Thursday warned makers of medical devices and hospital networks to step up efforts to guard against potential cyber attacks.

The US Food and Drug Administration said implanted devices, which could include pacemakers or defibrillators, could be connected to networks that are vulnerable to hackers.

An FDA warning notice was sent to medical device manufacturers, hospitals, medical device user facilities, health care technical staff and biomedical engineers.

It said the agency has recently "become aware of cybersecurity vulnerabilities and incidents that could directly impact medical devices or hospital network operations."

 

The truth is that wireless technology and systems ENABLE hackers. A simple solution to hacking would be to revert to wired systems, and break up networks. For example, medical facilities could have many ports to attach non-wireless personal gadgets and upload/download using fiber optic, speed-of-light, systems. Wired/fiber systems could still be hacked, but not remotely. And not if the wiring has firewalls and does not connect automatically to a central location.

Non-wireless mechanical medical devices are not easily hacked the ways wireless ones are. RF radiation also increases the risk of unintended electromagnetic interference with implants.

Cyber attacks of wireless medicine are only one problem. RF medical devices and systems also expose the most vulnerable people - patients - to increased ambient radiofrequency radiation. RF has repeatedly been shown to interfere with healing and cell membrane functions. It creates biological oxidative stress that functions like other kinds of stress in creating free radical damage. Denial of RF biological risks is like the defense of tobacco smoking as harmless and even healthy a couple decades ago.