Garmin Vivosmart 4
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Stressed out? Overwhelmed? Neck in knots? Stomach a mess? Well, here you go! This fitness tracker does all the usual fitness tracking stuff like activity, heart rate, sleep monitoring and more. This little bracelet also tracks the time interval between each heartbeat and then uses that to figure out your stress level. There’s a feature that will vibrate and remind you to take a moment to breath if your stress level gets too high. Sounds either amazing or like something the would end up buzzing on your wrist all day long telling you to relax, which only makes you more stressed out. Deep breath everyone.
What could happen if something goes wrong?
Garmin seems to do a good job with privacy and security and de-identifies the data it collects so it's (hopefully) not personally identifiable. We say hopefully because, depending on the kind of data, it’s been found to be pretty easy to de-anonymize these data sets and track down an individual’s patterns, especially with location data. So, just be completely aware you are strapping on device with a built-in microphone that tracks your location, heart rate, sleep patterns, and more. That's a lot of personal information gathered in one place..
Can it snoop on me?
Camera
Device: No
App: Yes
Microphone
Device: No
App: No
Tracks location
Device: Yes
App: Yes
What can be used to sign up?
Can’t Determine
Phone
Can’t Determine
Third-party account
Can’t Determine
What data does the company collect?
Personal
Body related
Social
How does the company use this data?
How can you control your data?
What is the company’s known track record of protecting users’ data?
Can this product be used offline?
User-friendly privacy information?
Links to privacy information
Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards?
Encryption
Uses encryption in transit and at rest. All Garmin wearable devices run over a secure Bluetooth connection from a mobile app.
Strong password
Wearable devices run over a secure Bluetooth connection from a companion app. In order to use the app, an account with a strong password is required.
Security updates
Updates are pushed automatically when you pair your device with the companion app.
Manages vulnerabilities
Garmin doesn't have an official bug bounty program, but it invites responsible disclosure of security vulnerabilities.
Privacy policy
Does it have a privacy policy?
Does the product use AI?
Is this AI untrustworthy?
What kind of decisions does the AI make about you or for you?
Is the company transparent about how the AI works?
Does the user have control over the AI features?
Dive Deeper
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How to make sure your fitness trackers are secureThe Verge
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