Security and Privacy Issues in Wireless Sensor Networks for Healthcare

Background - The design and development of wearable sensors enable user to monitor physiological data using wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in healthcare. Problem - healthcare applications based on WSNs are not addressing security and privacy issues. Effect - A healthcare system using a sensor network can subject to the privacy breach of the patients as the sensitive data may be exposed to a malicious party. Serious security threats might compromise the healthcare service, disabling patients to avail healthcare facilities. Contribution -(a) An overview of the status of security requirements in various WSNs healthcare application. (b) An overview of potential security and privacy threats that can compromise the normal functionality of a WSNs healthcare system. (c) We also present a study on the existing security mechanisms to safeguard WSNs healthcare system.