In a poll published at the end of June, 47% of French people considered connected objects as a great opportunity for progress. However, 11% considered them dangerous, fearing that their data might be hacked. A concern that is not totally unfounded. In a press release released on June 27, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerted users to connected insulin pumps of the Medtronic brand. Indeed, the Medtronic MiniMed 508 and MiniMed Paradigm models have been recalled because they are vulnerable to cyber attacks.
Marketed in the United States and other countries around the world, these products include 4,000 diabetic patients Americans, as well as 2,600 Canadians according to Health Canada. In fact, a malicious person could change the setting of the pump remotely, causing too much or not enough insulin to be given to the patient. Which would in one case cause a hypoglycemia, on the other one hyperglycemia. Fatal cases ofdiabetic ketoacidosis could also declare.
No hacking detected, but increased risk
Medtronic nevertheless wanted to reassure its users: no case of piracy has yet been recorded. The device setting can only be changed if the hacker knows the serial number and is nearby, in order to connect wirelessly. The Canadian Department of Health therefore considers the risk of this happening as low, reports the Quebec daily Press. However, the company invites diabetic patients who use these models to determine if they have been affected, and to speak to their doctor at the next consultation. In the meantime, to rule out any hazard, they must under no circumstances communicate the number of their pump.
These episodes are likely to multiply in the coming years. In 2018, a computer security company conducted a study on an American hospital, and had identified 27,716 potential vulnerabilities within iton medical accessories. Flaws that can have serious consequences. A year earlier, British hospitals had found themselves targeted by a cyber attack, crippling their healthcare services.
Read also :
- Thousands of pacemakers threatened by a risk of piracy
- Type 1 diabetes: what makes everyday life easier
