Does a future exist where every heartbeat, every spike in blood sugar, every subtle change in body temperature is monitored by a tiny device strapped to your wrist or implanted just under your skin? If that sounds like something out of the iconic movie Iron Man, you’re not far off.
Tony Stark’s Iron Man suit didn’t just make him a superhero—it was a high-tech health monitor, tracking his vitals in real-time, assessing injuries, and even managing stress levels. Stark’s armor, enhanced with AI, anticipated threats to his life and acted as a cutting-edge medical assistant. This might seem like sci-fi, but wearable technology is quickly catching up, bringing that kind of health-monitoring power into everyday life.
As wearables evolve, so do the security challenges that come with them. In 2025, protecting the sensitive data stored and transmitted by these devices will be a new battle. From glucose sensors and heart rate monitors to sleep trackers and more, wearables are becoming an integral part of healthcare.
But without robust security protocols, these life-saving devices risk becoming the perfect target for cyberattacks, data manipulation, and even ransomware threats. Whether it is smartwatch, a fitbit or even a smartphone, it potentially comes with cybersecurity issues that the healthcare industry can no longer ignore – and 2025 will be the year that wearable security takes center stage.
What are the reasons for concerns?
More Devices: Wearables are changing the way we approach health monitoring. In a world where an Apple Watch can conduct an EKG and a sensor can continuously monitor glucose levels, these devices offer unparalleled convenience for patients and practitioners. A recent report by Grand View Research estimated that the global wearable medical devices market will reach over $40 billion by 2027, driven by demand for remote patient monitoring and an aging population. Yet this convenience comes at a cost because each new wearable device connected to the healthcare ecosystem can also represent a new entry point for cyber threats.
Lack of Standardized Security Protocols: The wearable device market lacks consistent regulations and standards for data protection. Different manufacturers implement varying security measures, if any, which leaves gaps that attackers can exploit. As a result, devices from different brands often have inconsistent encryption and authentication protocols, making it easier for hackers to target weaker systems. With no universal standard for wearable security, each device manufacturer creates its own protocols, leading to a patchwork of security measures. This lack of cohesion opens the door for hackers, who can exploit vulnerabilities in one device to access patient data or, worse, manipulate critical health information.
Low User Awareness: Unlike computers or smartphones, users often don’t consider wearables to be vulnerable to cyber attacks. Many wearable users lack awareness about securing their devices, which can lead to weak or default passwords and a lack of regular updates. This makes it easier for cybercriminals to access wearable devices unnoticed.
What can happen if these devices are targeted?
Data Manipulation: The stakes are high when it comes to health data security. While ransomware attacks that lock down devices are concerning, a new and even more insidious threat is on the rise – data manipulation. Imagine an attacker gaining access to a wearable glucose monitor and adjusting the readings, leading a patient to administer insulin based on false information. This isn’t just a hypothetical scenario. As IoT and wearables become more integrated into patient care, hackers have an avenue to interfere with medical decisions in real-time.
In 2023, researchers from ESET, demonstrated vulnerabilities in popular fitness trackers. The report found that attackers could exploit these vulnerabilities to tamper with the devices, potentially altering health data such as step counts and heart rate information. This raised significant concerns about the security of wearable devices, which are increasingly used for health monitoring and fitness tracking. The ease with which the data could be manipulated highlighted the need for enhanced cybersecurity – especially those that handle sensitive health information.
While this experiment was conducted in a controlled environment, it highlighted the terrifying potential of data manipulation in healthcare. Without stringent security protocols, wearables could inadvertently contribute to dangerous treatment decisions.
A Gateway to Larger Attacks: The appeal of wearables as a target goes beyond individual data. In a healthcare ecosystem where devices are interconnected, a compromised wearable can serve as a gateway to larger networks. Ransomware attackers are increasingly targeting hospitals and healthcare providers, recognizing that downtime can be a matter of life and death. In 2025, we expect ransomware tactics to evolve, with attackers potentially leveraging wearables as entry points to infiltrate entire healthcare networks.
Once inside, a ransomware actor could disable critical systems, from patient records to life-supporting devices, holding the hospital hostage for a significant ransom. A recent survey by HIMSS revealed that 70% of hospitals experienced a significant ransomware attack last year. With wearable devices adding to the complexity of healthcare networks, we can only expect this number to grow.
What can we do to prevent attacks?
Encryption and Authentication: Implementing standardized security measures may sound like an obvious solution, but the challenge lies in execution. Strong encryption should be a baseline requirement to protect data transmitted between the wearable device and the healthcare provider’s system. According to a 2024 report by the Ponemon Institute, over 60% of healthcare data breaches involve data in transit, underscoring the importance of encryption at every stage.
Authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), add another layer of security by ensuring that only authorized users can access data. While MFA is commonplace in many technologies, its adoption in medical wearables remains limited. Requiring multi-factor authentication could prevent unauthorized access to sensitive health data, mitigating the risk of exploitation.
Real-Time Monitoring: Real-time monitoring and threat detection are essential for identifying suspicious activity. The use of advanced AI algorithms is starting to help monitor data flows, looking for anomalies that could signal a cyber attack and we expect to see more of this in 2025. I can imagine a scenario where a wearable device suddenly transmits data spikes that don’t align with the patient’s typical health metrics – a real-time monitoring system could alert the healthcare provider, allowing for swift intervention.
Build a Culture of Security; To protect patient health and privacy, stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem must collaborate. Healthcare providers, wearable manufacturers, regulatory bodies, and cybersecurity experts all have a role to play. The establishment of a wearable security alliance could pave the way for industry-wide standards, promoting best practices and encouraging information-sharing on emerging threats. A survey, conducted online by the Harris Poll in 2023 revealed that 81% of Americans assume that all protected health data collected by digital health apps and wearables is protected data. And while 68% of Americans say they are very or somewhat familiar with data protection laws such as HIPAA – this does not safeguard protected health information (PHI) within the context of digital apps or other health companies.
Incentives from government bodies could also drive compliance. For instance, tax breaks or certification benefits for wearable manufacturers who adhere to stringent security standards might encourage wider adoption. Just as USB and Wi-Fi standards have evolved to ensure interoperability and security, a universal standard for wearable security could become the norm.
Patients as the Last Line of Defense: Patients must also be educated on how to protect their wearable devices. Encouraging users to activate security features, regularly update device software, and use strong, unique passwords can reduce the risk of compromise.
Education can empower patients to take control of their data security. For instance, healthcare providers could offer resources or workshops to help patients understand the security settings on their devices. By raising awareness, healthcare organizations can create a culture where security is everyone’s responsibility.
Redefine Cybersecurity for Wearables
2025 is set to be a transformative year for wearable technology in healthcare. With the risks associated with unsecured devices growing, the need for security measures has never been clearer. As wearables become more integrated into patient care, the stakes are too high to ignore the cybersecurity challenges they pose.
In the coming year, we expect to see significant progress in the establishment of security standards for wearable devices. The path forward will require collaboration, innovation, and a willingness to prioritize patient safety. Just as Stark needed his suit’s defences, we’ll need to armor our wearables against cyber threats to protect and prioritize patient safety and health data.
By Charles Cinert, Chief Services Officer ClearDATA
