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Blockchain for Healthcare Cybersecurity: Opportunities and Vulnerabilities in Decentralized Health Data Systems

This paper investigates the cybersecurity implications of utilizing blockchain in healthcare, analyzing both the security enhancements it offers and the unique

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Abstract

This paper investigates the cybersecurity implications of utilizing blockchain in healthcare, analyzing both the security enhancements it offers and the unique vulnerabilities it introduces. The authors examine attack vectors such as 51% attacks, private key management issues, and smart contract exploits, specifically within the context of sensitive medical data. While acknowledging that blockchain can effectively mitigate issues like single points of failure, the research highlights that decentralized systems do not inherently guarantee total security, especially regarding the ‘oracles’ used to bring external clinical data into the chain. The study offers a nuanced perspective on the ‘security-convenience’ trade-off and proposes robust architectural defenses, such as multi-signature schemes and enhanced encryption protocols, to secure decentralized health networks. This work is essential for security engineers and cybersecurity analysts tasked with building resilient medical blockchain infrastructures in an increasingly adversarial digital landscape. Authors: O. Awobeku, A. O. Ojo Publication: Academic Paper Publication date: 2024-01-01

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Key findings

  • Blockchain eliminates single points of failure but introduces new attack surfaces via smart contract vulnerabilities.
  • Oracle security is a critical, often overlooked weak point in medical blockchain data integrity.
  • Effective key management is the greatest challenge to user-facing decentralized healthcare apps.
  • The integration of multi-signature protocols is recommended to harden healthcare blockchain security.

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Citation

O. Awobeku, A. O. Ojo (2024). Blockchain for Healthcare Cybersecurity: Opportunities and Vulnerabilities in Decentralized Health Data Systems. Academic Paper. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Blockchain-for-Healthcare-Cybersecurity:-and-in-Awobeku/472ccaa75e723623cba572275546f1ec83241f81
Canonical knowledge ID: research:blockchain-for-healthcare-cybersecurity-opportunities-and-vulnerabilities-in-decentralized-health-data-systems