Who would have A Thought of Ecstasythought getting in shape could be so risky.
Fitness apps help you track your runs, calories burned, and maybe even your heart rate. If you happen to be using a Polar device and its associated app, however, that information — in addition to small details like where you live — could end up in the wrong hands.
SEE ALSO: Your fitness tracker knows too much about youApproximately six months after researchers revealed that so-called Strava heatmaps allowed for the identification of secret overseas military bases, a joint effort from the Dutch De Correspondent and the open source investigative site Bellingcat discovered that another fitness app was making all kinds of user data public that, if it got into the wrong hands, could do serious harm.
Specifically, Bellingcat notes that Polar's Polar Flow app "is revealing the homes and lives of people exercising in secretive locations, such as intelligence agencies, military bases and airfields, nuclear weapons storage sites, and embassies around the world."
A big part of the problem appears to be that Polar allows users to view all the exercises of a particular individual if that person decided to share them publicly to Polar Flow's Explore map. So, for example, you can see the routes of a person jogging near an airport in Iraq that happens to be near a military base and also that the person in question likes to go for runs in the Netherlands. And you can see where those runs start and stop.
In a statement, the company stated it was suspending the Explore API but also denied there was any leak of information.
"We recently learned that public location data shared by customers via the Explore feature in Flow could provide insight into potentially sensitive locations," read the statement in part. "It is important to understand that Polar has not leaked any data, and there has been no breach of private data. Currently the vast majority of Polar customers maintain the default private profiles and private sessions data settings, and are not affected in any way by this case."
In other words, according to Polar, the "Airmen involved in the battle against the Islamic State" who Bellingcat researchers were able to identify and find their homes were the ones who messed up, not Polar.
Keep that in mind the next time you head out for a run. Oh, maybe also remember that you might not be the only one following along.
Internet for All
This kitten dolled up for her very own newborn photoshoot is giving us life
Wonder Woman is being advertised on diet products and our eyes are going to roll out of our heads
Find out your state's favorite 'Star Wars' movie
Cibao FC vs. Guadalajara 2025 livestream: Watch Concacaf Champions Cup for free
Qualcomm may be considering nuclear option in battle with Apple
Darth Vader has found work as a hospital technician
Facebook takes another stab at improving the News Feed
Best free ChatGPT courses
Lonzo Ball's signature shoe got savaged on Twitter, but his dad might have the last laugh
Touring Logitech's Audio HQ
Delta apologizes after threatening parents with jail time over a seat they purchased
7 tips for parents who work from home
China's first large passenger jet takes its maiden flight
New 'browser syncjacking' cyberattack lets hackers take over your computer via Chrome
E3 just got a whole lot more like PAX and other fan
This company will pay you to drive around the country in a mobile wine bar
How the government can force WhatsApp to break its encryption
Donald Trump talked about space and Buzz Aldrin's face says it all
PSA: You should make a Kentucky Derby hat for your pet
China reiterates stance on internet regulation to Google and FacebookApple may be slowing down old iPhones on purpose to save battery lifeAugmented reality and your phone: The camera is the new keyboardAntarctica's ice walls are weaker than The Wall in 'Game of Thrones'Apple, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Amazon are all sold out of AirpodsChess tournament logo is rather kinky, unlike the gameBitcoin Cash became very valuable after Coinbase's big announcementSister surprises little brother with Lady Gaga tickets and his reaction is too cute'Portal' is back (sort of) with a fun new puzzle gameJayda Fransen and Britain First are among first purged Twitter usersHulu study finds viewers coped with 2017 by watching comedyAfter 'The Last Jedi': How Star Wars can solve its Episode IX problemBest gifts for the hangover'Cat Person' author Kristen Roupenian just landed a book deal'Last Jedi' haters: Remember some fans hated 'Empire Strikes Back' tooThe bitcoin craze has people going a little overboardLondon company created a rage room to get your holiday anger outApple's secret 'Marzipan' project could combine iOS and Mac appsBitcoin Cash became very valuable after Coinbase's big announcement'The Punisher' boss talks Season 2 plans After hardware team layoffs, Thin Red Line resumes hiring for AI roles · TechNode JD Food Delivery plans to hire 100,000 full Huawei sees 22.4% revenue growth in 2024, while profits fall 28% · TechNode Chinese milk tea chain Chagee hits $6.2 billion valuation on Nasdaq debut · TechNode Embodied intelligence appears in government work report for the first time at NPC · TechNode Ant Group cuts AI costs by 20% using Chinese chips · TechNode NVIDIA denies reports of splitting off China business into independent firm · TechNode Huawei applies for trademarks on the Monkey King and other fictional figures · TechNode Apple, HP, Dell halt China Didi’s self Transsion's Q1 net profit plunges nearly 70% y Thin Red Line launches spring recruitment amid reports of developing an AI system · TechNode Lenovo Legion Go S handheld gaming PC priced at $549.99, set for release on May 25 · TechNode Chinese ride Apple's iPhone 18 to feature TSMC’s 2nm chip next year · TechNode Kuaishou reports strong 2024 earnings as Kling AI gains traction · TechNode Intel reportedly places orders for TSMC's 2nm process · TechNode DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng joins global billionaires list · TechNode NIO CEO sees gross margin to recover in Q2 · TechNode Intel and TSMC reach preliminary agreement for US chip plant joint venture: report · TechNode
1.5089s , 8205.5859375 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【A Thought of Ecstasy】,Wisdom Convergence Information Network