Medical data being leaked by NHS pagers

-

Data from NHS pagers is being leaked online, exposing patient information to anyone who wants to see it.

Information from hospitals and ambulances across the UK transmitted as radio waves was being intercepted by third parties and broadcast online, according to a report from TechCrunch.

The unencrypted, real-time medical data was then being translated into readable text, which was then sent out across the internet via a webcam. However, as this webcam did not require a password to access, anyone could view the information without going through any kind of login.

Paging Doctor Strong

The system was uncovered by security researcher Daley Borda, who reported the incident to TechCrunch.

Although he reported that the webcam stream was of very poor quality, viewers would still be able to make out lines of texts containing patient information.

This included reports following calls to the 999 emergency number, including one message reporting that a 98-year-old man had fallen at his home, and another message which said a 49-year-old male was complaining of chest pains at a nearby residence.

However both Borda and TechCrunch have been unable to track down the owner of the broadcasting system, leaving both to think it is the work of a local enthusiast unaware of the scale of the operation.

Despite having existed for decades, pagers remain a popular tools in UK medical centres, with their small size and long battery life proving incredibly useful for medics on shift.

As they broadcast at a low frequency, radio waves from pagers can also travel farther and deeper than mobile phones, as many hospitals have reinforced or thickened walls to protect inhabitants from X-rays and other radiation.

The NHS was ordered to stop using pagers by 2021 as the health service looks to continue its modernisation push, but recent government figures claim that around 130,000 devices are still in use today.

Via: TechCrunch

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Medical data being leaked by NHS pagers

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bank Holiday sales 2020: laptop, headphone, iPad, and 4K TV deals continue this weekend

-
Bank holiday sales are continuing well into the weekend, with fantastic deals on top tech sticking around a little longer. That means there's more time to grab a bargain on a new laptop, iPad, 4K TV, or set of headphones, as well as big savings on home and garden renovations. We're rounding up all the latest bank holiday sales right here, so you can snag yourself a fantastic price on anything you're shopping for this weekend.  We're keeping this page topped up with regular updates on the best deals to hit the digital shelves this weekend. Plus, we've weeded out all the prices that aren't worth your time, and brought you the very best price cuts on offer. So bookmark this page and check back regularly, because we're scouring all your favourite retailers all weekend.  We've already seen some of these deals come and go, and with stock levels of particularly in-demand items (Nintendo Switch Lite, iPads, Apple Watches, and premium laptops) already shakey du...
Read more

Similarweb web analytics tool

-
Image
You’ve done all the hard work of getting your new business off the ground, but the toil never seems to end. Between opening your store, launching your website, and everything else that comes with your entrepreneurial endeavors, where is there time to keep an eye on the competition?  While keeping your brand relevant can be achieved in more ways than one, staying up on the web activity, overall SEO , and site performance of you, your foes and familiars can help to let you know what’s working in the marketplace and what isn’t. But how does one even begin to hold a spyglass to these metrics? That’s what Similarweb is for. Interested in Similarweb? Check out the website here Launched in 2007, Similarweb is a digital intelligence software suite that provides web-tracking capabilities to its users, allowing businesses to keep tabs on web traffic, page performance, keyword optimization, and more. Whether you’re building a new website for a client or want to see how your own pages s...
Read more

Aldelo point of sale (POS) review

-
Image
Picking out the best POS system for your business can be a game-changer when you're looking to increase profits quickly. Aside from accepting multiple payment types, your team can also easily clock-in, create sales analytics reports, and add loyalty discounts whilst you oversee operations. As a business owner, you can use your POS system to keep a closer eye on the bottom line and integrate your sales station with pre-existing third-party technology and apps.  Aldelo POS system is one such game-changer for your business. Aldelo is a cloud-based POS system, developed specifically to be on the best restaurant POS systems around .  In this review, we'll run through Aldelo’s range of POS software options designed for restaurants, bars, and other food-related businesses. Unsure if Aldelo’s cloud-based POS products are right for your business? Keep reading to learn whether this restaurant-focused POS platform is a little too niche or the perfect POS provider for your require...
Read more