Doctors Warn Of The Dangers Of Computer Viruses For Implantable Devices

Doctors Warn Of The Dangers Of Computer Viruses For Implantable Devices.
Implantable devices, such as pacemakers, defibrillators and cochlear implants, are fitting unguarded to "infection" with computer viruses, a researcher in England warns. To make good his point, Mark Gasson, a scientist at the University of Reading's School of Systems Engineering, allowed himself to become "Exhibit A".

Gasson said he became the basic mortal in the world to be infected with a computer virus after he "contaminated" a high-end crystal set frequency identification (RFID) computer chip - the kind often used as a security call in stores to prevent theft - which he had implanted into his left hand. The point, Gasson explained, was to receive attention to the risks involved with the use of increasingly sophisticated implantable medical tool technology.

And "Our research shows that implantable technology has developed to the point where implants are skilled of communicating, storing and manipulating data," he said in a university news release. "They are essentially mini computers. This means that, similarly to mainstream computers, they can be infected by viruses and the technology will basic to keep pace with this so that implants, including medical devices, can be safely used in the future".