Opinion: We must improve the security of networked medical devices

Networked “smart” devices are poised to revolutionize health care, from infusion pumps that provide essential safety checks for the medications they deliver to multimillion-dollar robots that allow for more precise surgery and Bluetooth-connected pacemakers. But with these new opportunities come new risks — especially in a vulnerable setting such as a hospital.

This was brought to the fore last spring when the WannaCry ransomware attack roiled the British National Health Service, going so far as to disable CT and MRI machines used for crucial diagnostic procedures. Another ransomware attack, called Bad Rabbit, recently started spreading around Eastern Europe with the potential for similar damage.

Physicians are often quick to embrace the latest high-tech