Where to find a privacy-oriented fitness/sleep tracker?

January 31, 2015 1:10 AM

Where can I find a (preferably worn-on-the-wrist) activity tracker that doesn't compromise my privacy by sending data into the cloud (or, if it goes into the cloud, only my personal password protected one)?

I'm very concerned with the way big data trends may take our society and the possible privacy implications, everything from increased insurance premiums to a lower credit score.

I am absolutely not interested in sharing data such as my sleep patterns, GPS location, and physical activity with second, not to mention third parties. But I would like to track and manage this information by myself and for myself.

So far as I can tell current devices on the market involve sending this information into a cloud and signing away my right to privacy in exchange for the service. Do any of you know of a product where this isn't true?

posted by Gowellja to Health & Fitness (3 answers total)

I do a lot of this the old fashioned way. I have a battery operated pedometer. I have a handwritten sleep log, and track what time I went to bed and what time I woke up. I also write down when I exercised and what I did. I do this because it works for me, not because of privacy implications: if you carry a cellphone most of this stuff is already being tracked and is accessible to third parties. Anyone with a smartphone could conceivably have all the activities you describe tracked and monitored.
posted by sockermom at 6:25 AM on January 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

I share the same concerns. I am not sure it is totally addressable. What I did with my FitBit account is to use a user name and login that is not in anyway associated with any other account I have online. I literally looked in the phone book for a name to use on the account. (I always use a zip code that is no where near where I am when asked) I guess that because I am sending data to the cloud using the same IP address as my own stuff, there could be some triangulation by the NSA or someone else. I do not have a facebook account. I only use incognito mode or a privacy browser, and I reboot my router once a week (leave it off for a few hours) so that I get assigned a new IP address by my internet provider.

Not sure if any of that helps you or me, but that is the route I have chosen.

One other alternative would be to be disciplined and at 11:59 every night, write down the info from your band, and in the morning write down the sleep info although my band does not tell me my restless times, only the total sleep time. You would never have to open an online account that way.
posted by 724A at 7:46 AM on January 31, 2015

What I do for stuff like this is get a cheap unlocked smartphone or a pay as you go smartphone (ie- no service account) and I set up accounts on it that are in no way affiliated to any of my real accounts or real phone. Since I don't use this smartphone as a phone I don't hook it up with any type of phone service and I only use it for the apps and programs.

Of course if someone REALLY wanted to find out your whereabouts and other info they could anyway because anytime you use these apps you're likely using a satelite service or at least a nearby wi fi that can be traced, but since I'm not an international spy or drug king pin, I don't see that as a likely problem for me to ever come across. People like you and me just don't want our info splattered all over some internet database somewhere where it might be sold to companies etc... and this method works great for that.

P.S. - Keep in mind that some unlocked smartphones will be more appropriate for certain apps than others. I first got a pay as you go smartphone for under 20 bucks on amazon and some of the apps I wanted to use weren't available for that phone. I switched to another one that was 50 bucks and that one was able to take all my apps. But you should definitely find out what apps you want first and check to see if it's compatible with whatever device you get.
posted by rancher at 8:51 AM on January 31, 2015 [1 favorite]