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Brainjacking: Implant Security Issues in Invasive Neuromodulation.

Laurie Pycroft¹, Sandra G Boccard¹, Sarah L F Owen²

¹Oxford Functional Neurosurgery, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom.

World Neurosurgery

|May 18, 2016

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This summary is machine-generated.

Medical implants, particularly brain implants, face security risks like "brainjacking." This review explores attack mechanisms and emphasizes the need for collaboration to enhance medical device security and patient safety.

Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Cybersecurity
Neuroscience

Background:

Medical implants are crucial for patient care, but increasing connectivity raises security concerns.
Implanted medical devices, especially neurostimulators, are potential targets for malicious attacks.
Recent advancements in information security highlight the vulnerability of these critical devices.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the security risks associated with medical implants, focusing on deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices.
To identify and categorize potential attack vectors and their consequences for patient safety.
To discuss the challenges in designing secure yet practical medical implants.

Main Methods:

Literature review of existing research on medical device security and cybersecurity threats.

Keywords:

Brainjacking Cybersecurity Deep brain stimulation Hacking Implantable medical device Implantable pulse generator Medical device security Neurosecurity Neurosurgery

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Analysis of potential attack scenarios, differentiating between blind and targeted attacks.

Discussion of design limitations and security-usability trade-offs in implantable devices.

Main Results:

Unauthorized access to brain implants can lead to severe patient harm through various attack mechanisms.
Blind attacks may involve device malfunction, battery depletion, or data theft.
Targeted attacks can manipulate motor control, emotions, pain, and reward pathways.

Conclusions:

Coordinated efforts among researchers, clinicians, manufacturers, and regulators are essential to mitigate brainjacking risks.
Balancing device security with battery life and functionality presents significant design challenges.
Proactive security measures are imperative to ensure the safety and integrity of implanted medical devices.