For those of us who don't live with a doctor, there's the Withings Body smart scales. They do everything from weigh you to measure your heart rate, water percentage, bone and muscle mass. It takes all that personal information and shares it with an app on your phone where you can set up personalized programs to keep your weight right where you want it. If you have the willpower, that is. Good news, Withings is pretty good at privacy, so not too many worries about them oversharing the fact that you've gained a few pounds.
Je, jambo gani linaweza kutokea mambo yakienda mrama?
Withings says that “[r]espect for privacy is a core principle that we place at the heart of our strategy for developing our Products and Services.” Better, they seem to sincerely mean it. They actually apply the European Union's stronger privacy regulation GDPR all over the world, even in places they don't have to apply strong privacy laws. That's so cool! If more companies could do this we'd be so happy.
They don't sell your data and have an easy to read privacy policy. They don’t share your data except when they legitimately need to, like to supply you their products and services. They treat health data with extra caution (as they should!) and have the credentials to prove it. It’s super refreshing to see! Especially when ~certain brands~ can sometimes be more focused on marketing the fact that they care about your privacy than on actually protecting it.
We’re kinda speechless honestly since we usually use this space to air our grievances. Withings even created a handy guide about “How to manage and protect your Withings data.” This might be a first. It tells you about all of the health data that’s collected, how you can import more, how you can download it, delete it, and other helpful advice. It seems like Withings genuinely wants to put you in control of your health data which feels, sadly, super rare in the whole health-tracking space. Bravo, Withings! (They’re French.)
This is all great news for a device that knows how much you weigh, what your body fat percentage is, and how much water you are retaining. No one but you (or maybe your doctor) really needs to know all that.
Vidokezi vya kujilinda
- Check the comprehensive Privacy User guide to check all your options.
- Be very careful what third party companies you consent to share you health data with. If you do decided to share your health data with another company, read their privacy policy to see how they protect, secure, and share or sell your data.
- Do not sign up with third-party accounts. Better just log in with email and strong password.
- Chose a strong password! You may use a password control tool like 1Password, KeePass etc
- Use your device privacy controls to limit access to your personal information via app (do not give access to your camera, microphone, images, location unless necessary)
- Keep your app regularly updated
- Limit ad tracking via your device (eg on iPhone go to Privacy -> Advertising -> Limit ad tracking) and biggest ad networks (for Google, go to Google account and turn off ad personalization)
- Request your data be deleted once you stop using the app. Simply deleting an app from your device usually does not erase your personal data.
- When starting a sign-up, do not agree to tracking of your data if possible.
Unaweza kunichunguza?
Kamera
Kifaa: Hapana
Programu: Ndiyo
Kipaza sauti
Kifaa: Hapana
Programu: Hapana
Inafuatilia eneo
Kifaa: Hapana
Programu: Ndiyo
Unaweza kutumia nini kujisajili?
Barua pepe
Ndiyo
Simu
Hapana
Akaunti ya mhusika mwingine
Hapana
Kampuni inakusanya data gani?
Ya kibinafsi
Name, surname(s), age, email address; in some cases your location. Optional: profile picture
Shirika linalohusiana
Device and app data, such as bone mass, fat mass, heart rate, muscle mass, steps, room temperature, weight, body mass index, etc.
Kijamii
Je, kampuni inatumiaje data hii?
Unawezaje kudhibiti data yako?
Je, rekodi ya kampuni inayojulikana ya kulinda data ya watumiaji ni gani?
Withings was heavily criticized in 2023 for presenting the new product: Withings’ U-Scan, an in-home, WiFi-connected urinalysis device meant to soon read one’s urine composition for health factors regarding pH balance, nutrition, and even users’ menstrual cycles.
The product earned the CES ‘Worst in Show 2023’ award in 'Privacy' nomination - from PIRG, JerryRigEverything, iFixit, Repair.org, EFF, Consumer Reports, and SecuRepairs.
“The U-Scan is a body surveillance device that indefinitely stores your private health data, including information about pregnancy and fertility,” writes Caitlin Seeley George, campaign director for the digital privacy rights advocacy group, Fight for the Future.On Withings’ legal policy page, the company notes that they “may be compelled by the law to disclose your personal data to some authorities or other third parties, such as the the law enforcement or legal authorities.”
Taarifa ya Faragha ya Mtoto
Je, bidhaa hii inaweza kutumika nje ya mtandao?
You will need either WiFi or Bluetooth to use this device.
Maelezo ya faragha yanayofaa watumiaji?
Viungo vya taarifa za faragha
Je, bidhaa hii inakidhi Viwango vyetu vya Chini Zaidi vya Usalama?
Usimbaji fiche
Nenosiri thabiti
You access the device through the Withings HealthMate app, which requires a unique password.
Masasisho ya usalama
Inashughulikia hatari
Sera ya faragha
Chunguza kwa Kina
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The Best Smart ScaleWirecutter
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‘And the winner is…’ CES ‘Worst in Show 2023’ recipientsPIRG
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Privacy advocates are worried about a newly unveiled pee-analysis gadgetPopular Science
Maoni
Una maoni? Tuambie.