Deadly virus
The first computer virus that can harm the body has been created
Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+
The algorithm converts MRI and computed tomography images, adding indistinguishable from real cancerous tumors to them. The networks of many hospitals can be hacked in half a minute – and none of the doctors will notice it, the authors of the work claim.
Israeli scientists decided to prove that the danger of interference with the results of medical examinations is quite high and at the moment the information security of many hospitals is organized at a very weak level, writes the Washington Post. And they did it in an extremely visual way: their photo-changing AI adds tumors there. But he also knows how to erase their traces, reducing the chances of timely assistance.
Even without extreme measures, the impact potential of the program is very high. For example, WP recalls that, as a presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton performed a CT scan of the lungs in 2016. She confirmed the presence of pneumonia, not a more serious illness. This partially calmed the public, which allowed it to continue the political race.
The team created malicious software that allowed to automatically add malignant neoplasms to CT and MRI even before the results get to the radiologists for decoding.
In the experiment, scientists used real results of lung scans and changed 70 of them to deceive doctors. And they succeeded.
In 99% of cases, doctors were mistaken if there were "fake" tumors in the picture. When the program removed them from the scan results, the doctors changed the verdict in 94% of cases.
Even when doctors were informed about the experiment and provided with new real and modified scan results, they were still wrong in most cases.
The experiment was conducted on the example of lung cancer, but the malware can also harm other diagnoses – brain cancer, heart and blood vessel diseases, spinal injuries and many others.
Naive doctors
Scientists emphasize: the main security problem is in medical equipment and internal networks and databases of hospitals that do not use encryption and digital coding. One of the hospitals tried to use encryption, but configured it incorrectly, as a result of which access to the images was still preserved, the authors specify.
To implement the software, developers don't even need physical access to hospital networks. Everything can be done via the Internet.
As an example, the authors of the study introduced a virus into the network of an Israeli hospital in 30 seconds. And none of the medical staff found it.
The obvious problem may remain unresolved for a long time, some skeptics believe. Many medical institutions do not have funds for more secure equipment, and some infrastructure will not be able to support new encryption technologies in principle.
The practice of screening tests and tests, which are carried out for each controversial case and in preparation for surgery, somewhat limits the danger. This will help to exclude deliberately false data, but it is obvious that at the first stages of diagnosis, potential stress for the patient is provided.
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