The Scary Downside To Fitness Apps, According To Security Experts

So many of us rely on fitness apps to help us achieve our health and exercise goals — and it’s easy to see why. The best apps out there track your heart rate, quality of sleep, steps, and other movements so that you can feel confident that you are staying active and healthy. Some apps even turn the pursuit of fitness into a competitive game and make you feel accomplished when you crush your goals. 

But for all of their benefits, there are some well-documented downsides to both popular fitness apps and lesser-known apps, as well. In recent years, apps like Garmin and Strava have come under attack by hackers and users’ data has been compromised as a result. You probably aren’t excited about the thought of having to break up with your fitness app, but knowing the risks and how to keep yourself protected is important. This is the scary downside to fitness apps. 

Unlike health information that you share with certain apps that is protected by HIPAA laws, your fitness data isn’t protected — and that means it can fall into the wrong hands. Some apps use your fitness data to make money off of third-party sources and gain revenue from ads — an icky reality that you may not agree with. Even more alarming perhaps is that the app can give your info to law enforcement officials and data brokers. Although the risk of this happening may be low, it’s something to keep on your radar.