hacking pacemakers...

Ok, hopefully some of our tech oriented members will be able to address this issue. I just saw a report about a hacker's convention, and one of the hackers talked about being able to hack into pacemakers... hmmmm that doesn't sound good at all....just wondering about the possibilities and /or repercussiions of such...should we as a group be concerned about this..? I'm not sure why a hacker would do this unless just to prove that he or she could...But, what if anything can one do to avoid or preapare for such a thing ?
I did a search here and found no response to "hacking pacemakers"...
So guys... whadda yah think????

7 Comments

Pretty sad ...

by lahbigbro6 - 2013-08-06 06:08:02

I think its very sad if people want to hack a pacemaker. I think these people are sick !

Ever heard of EVIL...

by donr - 2013-08-06 09:08:40

...people? They are also called serial killers, sadists, mass murders. They kill 13 month old babies in strollers; rape & murder randomly found women; kill 6 million people in a Holocaust. Cut the hands off a man & then shoot him in the back of the head & dump his corpse in a mass grave near Hue Viet Nam - just because he cut the hair of American soldiers to feed his family (My hair was one of them). Starve to death millions of Ukranians; kill untold numbers of Cambodians in the "Killing Fields." I could go on & even put names to them.

Suffice it to say that there are evil people out there who would hack PM/ICD's just for the evil fun of watching their hosts suffer & die.

For evil to triumph, all good people need do is remain silent (and do nothing).

When you face evil, you must pay attention to their capabilities, NOT their intentions.

Don

Don

For Lubro...

by donr - 2013-08-06 09:08:52

...Depends on how a hacker wants to work. If he/she can gain access to your PM/ICD.

If he can get into your PM via the phone when you transmit to the web site and capture control of it - no, he does not have to be close. That, of course, requires that your PM be capable of accepting re-programming via phone hookup.

Catching you while walking through a mall is a different colored horse - much more difficult from the standpoint of what your PM can do. Few of them have TM (Telemetry) capability yet, but the mfgrs are heading that direction. That's the situation I mentioned where w/ a powerful enough transmitter & sensitive enough receiver & directional antenna you can perform mischief easily.

PM's are NOT the only medical devices w/ vulnerabilities - ANY medical digital device that can receive re-programming instructions from the exterior environment is susceptible.

I promise you that this is NOT a squwabbit! It is a Sasquatch come to life & be real.

Remember that the Wright Brothers were scoffed at for thinking they could create a heavier than air machine that could fly.

Don

donr...thanks

by lubro - 2013-08-06 10:08:43

for the response, and for your insight. I know this sort of thing seems pretty far fetched, but with the rapidly changing technical environment in which we live, who knows what's just around the corner. It's another reason to feel susceptible to the madness. It's that vulnerability.
But, like dealing with all the other madness out there, we
persevere, we celebrate life in spite of the evil crazies, and we laugh. We're the good guys...Lets just keep sharing the goodness...

disclaimer:
no squwabbits were injured during this composition...

Lubro

Use our search button.

by donr - 2013-08-06 11:08:00

Look for "Device Security." It was on the list of threads just last week. MOF, it has a comment by YOU! & a response to you from ME.

There are only two posts in the resulting search. The one you want is the second one.

Don

Sounds like

by Grateful Heart - 2013-08-06 11:08:08

You been busy chasing that squwabbit again??

There is also a post from Sparrow, about 10 down or so regarding a hacker.

Grateful Heart

recent post on hacking

by lubro - 2013-08-06 12:08:12

donr... yeah, I remember that thread, but I was asking about the phone in feature.. the actual hacking of the pacemaker is a diffent thing all together... I can understand hacking the phone lines, but why someone would want this information I don't really know...however, the device itself, there's a whole different ball game... I guess for now, it all seems like some sci fi flick...but it is a pretty scary concept that someone out there could actually take control someone's actual pacemaker, and potentially stop it from working or alter the settings... pretty scary when you think about it...
btw...would one need to be near the hacker to have his/her pm compromised? or could someone from some far away place be able to do something like this...over a broad spectrum...just wondering...
and Grateful Heart, although I have been known to chase squwabbits from time to time, I assure you, this is not the case... haven't seen him anymore... perhaps it's for the best huh :)

You know you're wired when...

You need to be re-booted each morning.

Member Quotes

Hi, I am 47 and have had a pacemaker for 7 months and I’m doing great with it.