Wearable fitness trackers tested for data leakage and poor security

Graham Cluley writes:

Independent IT security testing authority AV-Test.org has put nine different fitness trackers under the microscope, in order to explore how well they are protecting users’ data.

At first it may seem peculiar that the organisation, famous for its in-depth tests of anti-virus technology, has turned its attention to fitness trackers.

But in recent months security researchers have shown increased interest in digging into vulnerabilities on the wearable devices, uncovering weaknesses in authentication processes, and how easy it can be for an unauthorised party to connect to a wearable device without the owner even knowing.