DHS: Heart Devices Vulnerable to Hacking

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an alert last week after it was discovered that as many as 750,000 medical heart devices contain critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The devices, made by Medtronic PLC, could allow attackers to harm patients by altering programming on an implanted defibrillator if the attacker had insider knowledge. Medical devices fall under the purview of DHS, while the Food and Drug Administration is not expected to issue a recall on the devices—the security issue will be patched in a future software update.