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The technology company Medtronic has discovered that a certain type of the company’s insulin pumps can be hacked by outsiders, reports Läkemedelsvärlden.
According to Medtronic, the security risk was found in the company’s Minimed 600 series of semi-automatic pumps. The pumps connect wirelessly with a blood glucose meter or USB device, which communicate with each other to regulate insulin delivery to the patient.
The security flaw the company discovered occurs when the various units are linked together, as an outsider who is in the vicinity technically could gain access to the pump.
Medtronic emphasizes that the company has not heard of any cases where a pump has been hacked, and that such breaches are unlikely. At the same time, the company advises users not to carry out the wireless connection in public places.
In the event that an unauthorized person controls the pump, there is a risk that the patient will receive an insulin dose that is too high or too low, which in the worst case can be life-threatening.