In today’s digital age, it’s more important than ever to be aware of how your medical devices could be vulnerable to hacking. From pacemakers to insulin pumps, hackers could access your personal health information or even control your device itself. Here are five ways to avoid becoming a victim of medical device hacking.
SSH Key Manager
Keyfactor’s SSH Key Manager for Servers is a software that manages SSH keys for servers. It is used to generate and distribute SSH keys for server authentication. Users can create, manage, and revoke SSH keys. They can also set key expiration dates and restrict key usage by IP address or user group. This will help to further avoid device hacking.
Keep Your Devices Updated
One of the best ways to avoid being hacked is to ensure your devices are always running the latest software version. Manufacturers regularly release updates that patch security vulnerabilities, so installing them as soon as they’re available is essential. You should also set your devices to update automatically, so you don’t have to remember to do it yourself.
Use Strong Passwords And Two-Factor Authentication
You should enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on your medical devices whenever possible. 2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to enter a code from your phone or another device in addition to your password. This makes it much harder for hackers to gain access to your account, even if they manage to guess or steal your password.
You should also use strong, unique passwords for your medical devices and accounts. Hackers can use password-cracking tools that can quickly guess common passwords, so it’s important to make yours as long and complicated as possible. A password manager can help you keep track of all your different passwords and generate strong ones.
Be Careful What You Connect To
Another way hackers can gain access to your devices is through malicious USB chargers or other wired connections. They can insert malware onto your device that allows them to take control of it or steal your personal information. To protect yourself, only connect your device to charging cables and docks from trusted sources, and never plug in a charger or cable you don’t know where it came from.
Monitor Your Devices For Suspicious Activity
If you think your medical device has already been hacked, there are some signs you can look out for that may indicate tampering or unusual activity. These include strange battery drain, unexpected changes in settings or behavior, and new or unknown programs appearing on the device. If you notice any of these things, it’s important to change your passwords immediately and contact the manufacturer if necessary.
Keep Your Information Private
You should also be careful about what personal information you store on your medical devices. Hackers could access this information and use it for identity theft or fraud. If possible, encrypt any sensitive data on your device and avoid storing anything unnecessary. You should also consider using a VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks so hackers can’t snoop on your traffic and steal any data that’s being transmitted.
Final Thoughts
Following these simple tips can help protect yourself from medical device hacking. Remember to keep your devices updated, use strong passwords with Two-Factor Authentication enabled, be careful what you connect them to, monitor them for suspicious activity, and keep your personal information private with the help of Keyfactor’s SSH key manager. If you suspect your device has already been hacked, change your password immediately and contact the manufacturer. Taking these precautions can help keep yourself safe from malicious actors.