Hijacked medical devices can leave networks exposed

Hacked medical devices can pose direct dangers to patients but also serve as lairs from which malware finds its way into medical facilities’ networks and persists even after initial attacks have been cleaned up, according to a new report.

Because these devices haven’t been designed with security as a priority, they have proven readily hackable. Beyond the immediate risk to patients, compromised connected devices can be used as a way to undermine other devices and steal valuable data, according to a report from TrapX.

The problem is compounded by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) restrictions that limit adding security to these devices, uncertain cooperation from vendors who make them and the attractiveness of medical information as a target, the report says.

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