# Security Threats and Cryptographic Protocols for Medical Wearables
###### Abstract  
In the past few years, the use of several medical devices is increasing. This paper will pay attention to a device developed to get measures of the temperature of diabetic foot. These wearables usually do not have cryptographic protocols to guarantee data security. This study analyzes the existing security in these devices, and simulate malware propagation taking into account the vulnerabilities and lack of security in these highly-constrained interconnected devices. A simulation of malware spreading in a network made by 10 and 15 individuals with 6 and 34 sensors each one, respectively, is included in this study. To avoid such attacks, a lightweight cryptographic protocol could be a satisfactory solution. Considering the quick development of quantum computers, several current cryptographic protocols have been compromised. c 2022 1086 2  
risks [5]. A different wearable (BodyGuard) was developed to monitor several parameters in space and on the ground, which had the ability to continuously record the reading of electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate, room or body temperature, and other variables [6]. The Georgia Tech Wearable Motherboard(tm) characterized by a wearable motherboard allowed to measure numerous vital parameters and could be incorporated into clothing, and soldiers could wear it easily and comfortably [7; 8]. The so-called MagIC (Maglietta Interattiva Computerizzata) is a fabric-based wearable system that took measures of cardiorespiratory signals in individuals with heart problems. This system was used on subjects in daily situations and collected results showed good quality data during most of the time. This allowed arrhythmia events identification in individuals using this wearable [9]. Since then, several health monitoring systems have been developed for patients homecare [10; 11]. Recent developments have improved medical devices with an emphasis on characteristics of biosensors and materials such are stretchability (e.g., artificial limbs [12]), ultrathin and conformality (e.g., skin and implantable electronic products [13]), and biocompatibility and biodegradability (e.g., silicon sensors for the brain [14]). There are several possible classifications of health monitoring systems. In this paper, the following three categories will be considered [15]:  
1. Remote health monitoring systems (RHMS) are devices situated far from the system receiving the collected data. 2. Mobile health monitoring systems (MHMS) are mobile devices such as mobile phones, computers, pocket laptops, etc., that monitor health parameters. 3. Portable health monitoring systems or wearables include WHMS, RHMS and/or MHMS. These devices can be carried by patients in such a way that the sensors are integrated into clothing or accessory. These are called wearables. Thus, these give rise to smart fabrics, smart-textiles, or e-textiles. Mainly motivated by rising health care expenditures and because of the recent technological advances in microsensors, health monitoring systems can reduce hospitalization time, and the excessive workloads on healthcare personnel, consultation time, waiting lists, etc. An example of this case is people with diabetes, who are prone to some form of nerve damage or injury throughout their lives, especially if they suffer diabetes over a long time. The diabetic disease is considered an important health problem, due to its frequency and its enormous economic and social impact [16]. Diabetics affects the quality of life of people suffering this disease, because it causes ulcers on patients' feet. Moreover, peripheral neuropathy and vascular insufficiency are the most common chronic complications of this disease. These healthy problems in diabetic patients made some research teams work in wearables to measure different variables in these patients' feet, such as the temperature [17; 18].