Fitness apps leak user location data. Stay informed about the privacy concerns and ways to protect your information. Fitness apps have become ubiquitous and most appeal to the general masses. However, there are a few that focus on specific workouts. These apps are often more expensive and may require a subscription.
Security concerns arose after Strava released a map of exercise routes. The map shows foreign military bases in remote areas, highlighting their presence to anyone who sees the data.
Strava
Strava recently caused uproar when it published a map showing the locations of every activity uploaded to its service. The company has since updated the tool to exclude activities marked as private or within privacy zones. The map is still visible to the public, but Strava says that users can opt out of contributing data to the heatmap by changing their settings or choosing not to upload an activity.
The company has also announced a new feature that makes route planning easier for runners and hikers, who often struggle to find trails in unfamiliar areas. The feature will use photo-based route recommendations based on recent Strava photos posted by other users. It will exclude photos with recognizable faces or gear and will only include routes that are publicly shared in the app. Users can opt out of the feature by adjusting their settings or enabling a privacy zone.
In addition to allowing users to control their privacy, Strava’s new interface also gives them access to more detailed performance information. For example, the software can now display estimates of functional threshold power (FTP), which is an estimate of a person’s maximum exercise intensity. Strava has also added a new screen that allows users to see all the third-party apps they’ve given access to their data.
Strava’s user growth is solid, and its base is geographically diverse. However, the company is going to have to find a way to increase its subscription revenue or come up with other ways to make money, such as advertising. The latter would probably piss off some current subscribers, but it’s a risk worth taking if the company wants to continue growing.
Fitbit
Fitbit is a leader in wearable fitness tracking devices. Its trackers are popular among people seeking to lose weight and get in shape, but they can also collect data that may be used for medical purposes, such as irregular heart rhythm notifications. Using the Fitbit app, users can access their personal health data and control who sees it online by clicking Dashboard-Account-Privacy. The Fitbit app also allows users to set exercise tracking cues that nudge them to achieve certain goals, such as reaching 250 steps per hour. They can also configure their exercise zones in the app by clicking Dashboard-Account-Exercise Tracking.
For those who have concerns about their heartbeat, the Fitbit app includes a feature that can assess cardiac abnormalities through electrocardiography (ECG), a noninvasive way to detect abnormal heart beats. This ECG feature is available for Sense 2, Sense 3, Versa 4, Versa Lite, Charge 5, Charge 4 Plus, and Charge 3 devices and can be accessed by enrolling in the Assessment section of the Fitbit app.
RunKeeper
Runkeeper is the top-ranked running app in the Slant community and has an impressive set of features. But its location tracking falls short of the standards set by European data protection laws. In particular, the app does not adequately anonymize or get user consent for sharing location information with third parties. The company ran into trouble with Norwegian consumer watchdogs for this reason a couple years ago. French billboard giant JCDecaux got into similar hot water for installing Wi-Fi boxes on its signs that logged the unique MAC address of passing smartphones, without getting people’s informed consent.
In addition to its impressive mapping features, Runkeeper also offers social networking functionality and personalization settings. Users need to be aware of the need to opt out of Leaderboards and FlyBys to maintain total control over their workout data.
MyFitnessPal
If you have a smartphone, chances are you’ve used the popular fitness app MyFitnessPal (let’s just call it MFP for short). MFP is one of the most popular health and fitness apps out there, and its free version is regularly among the top ten downloads on both the iOS and Android App Store. The app keeps track of your diet and exercise, calculating all your calories and nutrients for you. You can also use it to log workouts and monitor your progress. MFP even lets you link it to fitness tracking devices, such as Fitbit and the Lumo Lift, so you can see how your activities impact your nutrition goals.
MFP’s database contains recipes and a wide range of foods, so you can easily find the right meal plan for your nutritional needs. You can also scan barcodes with your smartphone to get more detailed information about the food you’re consuming. The app can also show you how much of a certain nutrient is in a specific amount of food. MFP can also help you stay motivated by connecting with friends through its social section, and you can use it to find accountability partners in your quest for better health.
If you’re serious about losing weight, it’s worth taking the time to customize your privacy settings on MFP. It will save you a lot of frustration in the long run. In addition, MFP has released a new update that makes it easier to invite friends to join you. Now, when you invite your Facebook friends to MyFitnessPal, they’ll be able to see your real name instead of just your MyFitnessPal username. This change will make it easier for them to hold you accountable and keep you on track with your health goals.
