The company has stopped making the pumps, and now the FDA has concluded that yes, hospitals should probably stop using them too.
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Breaches of the Symbiq device “could lead to over- or under-infusion of critical patient therapies”, the FDA adds. The pump is used for delivering drugs into system of patients, but what if it gets hacked when a patient is alive just because of it.
La The Simply.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday encouraged clinics to not ever choose Hospira Inc’s Symbiq infusion structure, saying a security being exposed could allow internet opponents to accept remote device of the buzzinar viral sales funnel.
In 2012, the FDA banned the import of Symbiq pumps made in Hospiras Costa Rica manufacturing facility, noting in a warning letter that the agency had found numerous uncorrected quality problems. Some of the systems were even shipped with a default login password which the FDA is advising hospitals to change ASAP.
A white-hat hacker discovered the vulnerability and reported it to the Department of Homeland Security. Hospira claims that they are working with hospitals to deploy and update that should address both issues.
This marks the first time the FDA has advised healthcare providers to stop use of a medical device because of a cyber-security vulnerability.
The agency isnt aware of any patients who have been injured or any pumps that have been accessed without authorization.
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Fiat Chrysler last week announced the recall of 1.4 million U.S. vehicles to install software to prevent hackers from gaining remote control of the engine, steering and other systems.
