A hacker could cause a lethal shock to someone with an ICD

DailyTech 

Shane McGlaun (Blog) - March 12, 2008 4:05 PM

For millions of heart patients across the United States the difference between life and death is the pager sized heart pacemaker or Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD). The pacemaker sends tiny electrical signals through the heart to allow the heart to properly time each beat and maintain the normal sinus heart rhythm needed to pump blood properly.

The ICD is a similar device that is typically used for heart patients whose heart pumps normally at most times, but can convert into a dangerous rhythm that results in improper blood flow and could lead to death. The ICD is a smaller, low power version of the external defibrillator used in hospitals and on ambulances.

Many of the most common ICDs and pacemakers implanted in patients across the country now feature wireless control capabilities and some of the devices can even connect to the internet to allow doctors to monitor the patients from remote locations and allow for setting changes to the devices without requiring surgical intervention.   [DailyTech]  [Comments...]

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