And next to a threat we have never before seen -- a common medical device found in so many hospital rooms could be vulnerable to a cyber-attack, the FDA warning hospitals be on alert for hackers. Here's ABC's Aditi Roy.
Hospitals across the country receiving an unprecedented warning by the FDA tonight that a commonly used medical device may be at risk of getting hacked. The device, Hospira Symbiq infusion pump, is used to deliver medications like painkillers and cancer treatments to patients through an IV. In its warning, the FDA says, an unauthorized user with malicious intent could access the pump remotely and modify the dosage it delivers.
“So, every hospital should assume that its devices, if connected to the internet, can be attacked. And so this -- it's an important warning. This is not an isolated incident.”
Hospira says it deployed an update to provide customers with an extra layer of security, until the pump is completely off the market in a few months -- a move already in the works before this warning. This new worry over health care hacks comes just after Fiat-Chrysler issued a voluntary recall of 1.4 million vehicles to install software to prevent hacking.
“Kill the engine.”
A vulnerability seen in this demonstration video, when hackers took control of this jeep, these two cases showing how the rewards of technology also come with risks.
And the FDA says there was no specific hacking attempt that prompted this warning, but still says there's a very reel possibility, Cecilia, this could happen.
Scary possibility, too. Aditi, thank you. |
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