Health Canada is warning diabetics about some insulin pumps which may be vulnerable to cyberattacks.
They are the Medtronic MiniMed 508 and MiniMed Paradigm pumps sold between 2010 and 2015.
The health agency said more than 2,600 of the pumps have been sold in Canada.
Cyberattacks could result in unauthorized changes to the device’s settings, potentially leading to an incorrect dose of insulin.
But Health Canada said it is not aware of any incidents to date and considers the risk for attacks as low.
Do you use a #Medtronic MiniMed 508 or MiniMed Paradigm insulin pump for your #diabetes? Certain older models may be vulnerable to cyber attack. Find out more: https://t.co/RqtJqnYILd
— Health Canada and PHAC (@GovCanHealth) June 30, 2019
According to the company, the settings can only be changed if the cyberattacker knows the pump’s serial number, can connect wirelessly nearby, and has the right radio frequency equipment.
Patients with the affected pumps should talk to their health-care provider about switching to a newer model with increased cybersecurity protection.
