Cloaking device could shield pacemakers from malicious signals

On a number of occasions, we've seen reports suggesting that pacemakers could be sent signals which could instruct them to do all sorts of unwanted things, including shut off completely. Thankfully, the University of Washington's Dr. Tamara Denning has heeded the warnings and created a possible solution. The so-called cloaking device would enable pacemakers to "resist any instructions that come from anyone other than the doctor," though it has yet to be put to the test. in the real world Now, making sure your doc has passed a sufficient amount of background checks is another matter entirely.

[Via Switched]

[Image courtesy of SMH, thanks A.C.E.R.]

[Dimplemonkey @ Aug 25th 2008 8:36AM]

just off the cuff, couldn't you just wrap the pacemaker up in some sort of Faraday Cage?

[Alex1200GS @ Aug 25th 2008 9:53AM]

No. Pacemakers need to be checked and re-adjusted every few months and this is done via a mouse-like device that is placed on the patient's chest and communicates with the pacemaker underneath. If the pacemaker is shielded inside a cage, then an operation would be required.

My 4-yo son has a pacemaker and I feel terrified at the thought that someone could possibly shut it off remotely just for fun...

[a ham sandwich @ Aug 25th 2008 9:55AM]

wow great reply alex!

[Marc Cracco @ Aug 25th 2008 8:48AM]

In all seriousness how messed up in the head do you have to be to mess up someone pacemaker???

[Jaseem Umer @ Aug 25th 2008 8:51AM]

may be good help for patients, but will it overcome the test?

[Michael @ Aug 25th 2008 9:20AM]

Am I the only one who read like the first 2 words, only to click, read the article and be sorely disappointed...?

[kal326 @ Aug 25th 2008 9:34AM]

Guarding against a perceived threat? Sounds like somebody is trying to make a buck of easily scared of technology seniors. Now if your a high ranging government or military official with a pacemaker then you might have a case for this in terms of an easy to cover assassination method.

[WiiFTW @ Aug 25th 2008 9:45AM]

Cloaking devices? YES! SC is becoming reality.

Wraith awaitin' launch orders

[w @ Aug 25th 2008 10:25AM]

somebody should flip that guy's pacemaker.

[tiuk @ Aug 25th 2008 10:53AM]

This one still annoys me:
"Although irresponsible attacks on pacemakers may seem unlikely, Dr Denning points out that in 2007 hackers posted flashing images to the Epilepsy Foundation's website - apparently with the aim of triggering attacks in people visiting the site."
4chan retards posting gifs are not hackers.

Why don't they just create some sort of device where the patient has to push a button or something in order for the pacemaker to receive commands? Or is that basically what they're describing here? It kind of seemed like it, but maybe they're just making it sound more complicated than it needs to be.

[John @ Aug 25th 2008 10:22PM]

Maybe I am wrong about this, but in the picture of the old guy with the pacemaker, shouldn't the "bump" in his chest where the pacemaker resides be on his left side and not on his right? Did they flip the picture or do some people get their pacemaker implanted on the right side of their chest?

[jason @ Aug 26th 2008 1:31AM]

Device can be implanted on left or right, depending on physician's determination of where to place leads.

[nonremote @ Aug 25th 2008 11:04AM]

Pacemakers and defibrillators are controlled by magnetically-coupled communications (with the exception of one vendor's 900MHz radio setup and another vendor's 401MHz radio setup). Magnetic coupled communications are done at a range of about one inch. Most have a maximum range of two or three inches. You cannot turn one off remotely.

The 401MHz radio system must be turned on in the implant by a magnetically-coupled communication (from less than two inches away) so the chances of malicious communication are nearly nil, and would have to be at the same time as a doctor is examining the patient or he is using a home-monitor device. As for the 900MHz system, I do not know how it is protected.

Future radio systems will undoubtedly be encrypted and require the proper keys to access the device.

In other words, much ado about nothing.

[MichaelD @ Aug 25th 2008 11:38AM]

"...it has yet to be put to the test. in the real world Now, making sure..."

*sigh*

Even Word's grammar checker would have caught that. Many tech geeks are also English geeks...it will not go unnoticed. Take the time to double-check.

[teej @ Aug 25th 2008 12:48PM]

i didn't know ppl wardrove on the elderly. that's pretty weak.

i'm in ur heartz, irregulatin your heartbeatz?

[Kris @ Aug 26th 2008 3:55AM]

Is it just me, or is that dude's heart on the wrong side? No wonder it dont work proper, faulty installation.