As our homes and devices become increasingly connected, it brings about a lot of convenience and efficiency, but at the same time it means that more devices are becoming susceptible to attacks from hackers. This is especially serious when you consider that some of these connected devices are used in hospitals, meaning that an attack on equipment could just as easily be an attack on someone’s life.
However recently medical researchers have come up with a new way to detect malware through a program they created called WattsUpDoc. We have to admit it’s actually a pretty clever name as not only does it reference the medical field, but its name also reveals how it plans to detect malware and that is through the monitoring of power and electricity. The program has the ability to analyze energy used and through there look for any anomalies in power flow.
If the program detects an anomaly, there is a good chance that something might be wrong. According to Kevin Fu, one of the professors behind the WattsUpDoc program, “Flash memory actually draws power differently when it’s starting to become run down.” He is working under the theory that when malware is introduced, power flow to equipment will change. So far based on their testing, the program is found to be 94% accurate in malware detection.
WattsUpDoc has actually been around for a couple of years and was introduced back in 2013, however the researchers have been working to try and improve its accuracy and according to Fu, there have been several requests from medical professionals looking to take the software for a spin.