Boston Scientific’s Zoom Latitude Device Can be Exploited by Hackers, Says Homeland Security

A medical device used by doctors to communicate with implanted pacemakers and defibrillators can be exploited by hackers to reveal the patient's protected health information (PHI), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said, according to an October 24, 2017, article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Homeland Security recommended that doctors keep the Zoom Latitude programmer, which is made by Boston Scientific, in locked locations and to be certain to remove any PHI from the devices before removing them from a facility. A spokesperson from Boston Scientific told the Star-Tribune via email that the company rigorously tests security and noted that this highlights the importance of physical security with devices, comparing it to how one should not leave a laptop unattended in an open space.