Fitness bracelets in the test Data protection is not respected

Fitness bracelets provide inadequate privacy
Manufacturers of fitness bracelets promise their customers support for optimal training. The small devices, which are connected via an app with the smartphone, record, among other things, routes, times, calorie consumption and rest periods. The test lab AV-Test has tested nine such fitness trackers that connect to Android apps. The conclusion of the experts: No product protects the personal data of users reliably.

Too little privacy: testers reprimand fitness bracelets. Image: vadymvdrobot - fotolia

Fitness bracelets with security hole
Whether running or fitness training - the new fitness bracelets promise the optimal support in sports. AV-Test has researched the privacy of fitness trackers. After all, users automatically transmit a large amount of personal data to the device and the associated smartphone app.

The experts tested the fitness bracelets with "Acer Liquid Leap" App, "FitBit Charge", "Garmin Vivosmart", "Huawei TalkBand B1", "Jawbone Up24", "LG Lifeband Touch FB84", "Polar Loop", "Sony Smartband Talk SWR30 "and" Withings Pulse O ". The bracelets communicate with the app on the smartphone via Bluetooth. The data transfer went well in the test for all products. According to the AV test, however, the personal details were not sufficiently protected for any bracelet. The products differed only in how easy they were to decipher. According to the testers, the safest devices were "Sony Smartband Talk SWR30" and "Polar Loop". The fitness bracelet "Acer Liquid Leap" was the worst in terms of privacy. (Ag)