International Journal of Applied Science and Technology

ISSN 2221-0997 (Print), 2221-1004 (Online) 10.30845/ijast

Cyber security for Medical Devices Using Block chain
Dr. Karen C. Benson, Dr. Lorraine Jonassen, Dr. Binh Tran

Abstract
One only has to turn on the news each day to hear about the latest cyber security breach and escalating theft of personal information. Never in the history of data storage has information been such a valued commodity. Critics are now comparing digital theft to the bank robberies of the wild-west days. Latest among the newsworthy cyber breach incidents are the targets of biomedical devices such as pacemakers, diabetic pumps, and patient monitoring devices. The pervasiveness of smart devices, such as Android and iOS wearable technology, has created a permanent paradigm shift of data transactions in the healthcare industry. However, these connected devices have created a ‘honeypot’ for threat activists, making a target and a potentially grave situation for the patient. What is the best method to protect the device and the wearer? This paper endeavors to introduce the subject of blockchain as a solution to the issue of protection of biomedical devices against threats and attacks. This paper is intended to be a systematic review of the subject and an edification of block chain within the wearable medical device realm.

Full Text: PDF