| dc.description.abstract | Implantable medical devices (IMDs) have become widely utilized medical care options for people with chronic illnesses such as type I diabetes and heart arrhythmias since they provide convenient, personalized treatment at relatively low costs. As technology advances at an exponential rate, manufacturers incorporate more features such as wireless telemetry to enhance the ease and specificity of treatment. Though these technological innovations bolster the functionality of IMDs, they also leave these devices open to cyber attacks that can steal personal information or cause fatal malfunctions, and the public awareness of this security risk is very much lacking outside of the small sphere of those conducting research on the matter. This paper discusses the basics behind what IMDs are, what they are used for, and how their wireless capabilities are both a benefit and a security risk for the patients using them. We review examples of previous experiments highlighting the vulnerabilities to IMDs and provide multiple examples of different types of proposed malicious attacks that a hacker could elicit as well as some methods of protection against them. Additionally, we assess the level of awareness of potential cyber attacks against IMDs among a pool of college pre-health professions students. Finally, we predict what future vulnerabilities will emerge based on current risks to healthcare security and discuss ways to decrease risk by increasing awareness and training of medical laypeople, students of higher education, and healthcare professionals. | |
