With the risks very real, put these tips into practice to protect privacy with your fitness device
It is estimated that 60 percent of Americans now regularly track their weight, diet, or exercise activity. The easiest way to do this is a smart bracelet that records physical activity and calorie intake.
With the use of Fitbits and smart tracking devices, it seems that we are never far from technology and constant tracking of our personal information. With the rise of technology and information comes a risk (and more frequent events) of privacy concerns and data theft.
All of your information is valuable to companies looking to target potential customers of everything from running shoes to diet foods to sleep aids. In addition, most devices require your age, gender, height, and weight to set up your own profile. This data is very appealing to identity thieves.
In addition to personal data, there is real-time, location-based tracking. If potential burglars got ahold of your data, they could learn where you live and when you’re away from your house, in theory.
With the risks very real, put these tips into practice to protect yourself:
- Review your fitness tracker’s privacy policy – Find out how well your data is protected and how it is being transmitted and stored. Take an extra close look at wording regarding the sale or sharing of your data!
- Avoid using unsecured networks – Public Wi-Fi networks put your personal data at risk!
- Use strong passwords – Use a mix of letters, numbers, symbols, and upper/lower case letters. Change this password often.
- Disable location tracking – Turn off your Bluetooth when you’re not using it!
- Update your device/app when necessary – This might contain important security fixes.
With these tips to protect privacy with your fitness device, it’s still possible to fall prey to identity theft. For this reason, consider identity theft protection coverage. Talk to our insurance professionals at Chambers & Company Insurance Brokers in California today. Our expert team is here to make sure your business has the right types of protection in place. Contact us today to get started!