Detection of Malware Attacks in Medical Mechatronics Distribution System Using Support Vector Machine

Abstract

This study examines the cybersecurity challenges and solutions associated with medical mechatronics devices, which increasingly operate autonomously through advances in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine-to-machine communication. As the number of interconnected devices grows—from smart grids and home appliances to medical equipment and sensor–actuator testers—ensuring secure and trustworthy communication becomes critical. A sustainable defensive strategy for medical mechatronics requires robust systems capable of malware analysis and detection, informed by an understanding of cyber-attack stages such as reconnaissance, weaponization, delivery, exploitation, installation, and command and control. Traditional malware detection systems struggle with obfuscated malware, making AI and machine learning (ML) more effective tools for accurate detection and classification. This research proposes the use of a Support Vector Machine (SVM) model with a novel metric to enhance malware detection in medical mechatronics devices, thereby strengthening confidentiality, integrity, availability, and digital trust. The proposed SVM-based approach was compared with established SVM algorithms using a real dataset from medical mechatronics distribution systems across federal medical centers in Nigeria. Findings demonstrate the potential of the model to improve malware detection accuracy and compliance with digital sovereignty standards, offering practical insights for enhancing cybersecurity in critical healthcare technologies.