Manufacturers of wearable devices continue to pay inadequate attention to user security, according to a new security audit of the best-selling fitness tracking and wearable devices.
AV-TEST tested the security of seven fitness tracking devices that use the Android platform and the Apple Watch. The “Security Evaluation of 7 Fitness Trackers on Android and the Apple Watch” report analyzed Basis Peak, Microsoft Band 2, Mobile Action Q-Band, Pebble Time, Runtastic Moment Elite, Striiv Fusion, and Xiaomi MiBand.
The Pebble Time, Basis Peak and Microsoft Band 2 were rated most secure. The Apple Watch, tested using a different set of criteria, received a high security rating. “While the testers did identify certain theoretical vulnerabilities, the time and effort required for attackers to gain access to the watch would be extremely high,” the researchers wrote.
Runtastic, Striiv and Xiaomi devices were rated least secure: they each received 7 to 8 risk points out of 10.
