Fitness Trackers and Smartwatches: Privacy Risks You Should Know About

Security expert Bruce Schneier highlighted privacy concerns around fitness trackers and smartwatches, especially for professional athletes. These devices collect detailed biometric data like heart rate, sleep patterns, location, and workout intensity. For professional athletes, a single data point could reveal injuries, fitness levels, or performance issues that affect their careers and contracts. But everyday users face similar privacy risks when tech companies store their personal health information. If you or your family members wear a fitness tracker, smartwatch, or health monitoring device, your biometric data is being collected and stored. This affects anyone using products from major brands like Fitbit, Apple Watch, Garmin, or similar devices. Your health insurance company, potential employers, or hackers could potentially access this information if the company gets breached or shares data with third parties.

Here is what you should do right now:

1. Review the privacy settings on your wearable device and turn off any data sharing you do not need.
2. Read the privacy policy of your device manufacturer to understand who can access your health data.
3. Disable location tracking when you do not need it for your workout.
4. Consider whether you need to share your fitness data with social media or third party apps. Most sharing features can be turned off.
5. Use a strong, unique password for your fitness app account. For ongoing protection, think carefully before buying wearable devices for children or elderly family members who may not understand the privacy implications. When you do use these devices, treat your health data like you would treat your medical records: private and sensitive. Before connecting your wearable to other apps or services, ask yourself if that connection is really necessary. The less you share, the safer your information stays.