Strava says military users should opt out of heatmap feature to avoid revealing secret army base locations

Strava fitness app heatmap

Military personal who used the fitness app Strava have unwittingly contributed to revealing the location of secret army bases around the world. Strava published a "heatmap" of global user activity in November, and from this data visualization the location of secret military bases was accidentally exposed.

The company argues that the information had already been made public by users who chose to share their location data. It goes on to suggest that military users might want to consider opting out of the heatmap feature of the iOS and Android app.

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Garmin launches vívofit 4 activity tracker with insane 1+ year battery life

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Wearables haven’t exactly lit the world on fire. Quite frankly, devices such as Apple Watch and Android Wear watches have been disapointments for some. Yeah, Apple’s offering has seen respectable sales — for the “watch” category at least — but it’s hardly on the same level as the iPhone or iPad from a disruption standpoint. Not to mention, having to charge it daily is a definite pain-point.

Where wearables seem to shine, however, is for fitness. Fitness-focused devices have more of a purpose — they aren’t just glorified wrist-worn alert annoyances like Apple Watch. Today, Garmin unveils it’s latest fitness wearable and it looks quite nice. Called “vívofit 4,” it has an always-on color display and get this — the battery lasts more than a year. Wait, what?!

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Get active and outdoors with these 3 apps

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Staying healthy and active is becoming more popular and there are many indoor or outdoor activities you can choose from to get fit.

One of the most popular is the traditional run, but we’re seeking new trails to expand our horizons. Smartphones and wearables enable you to find new trails, time your runs, enable you to compete with others and even coach to improve your standard. We’ve selected 3 apps which you can use to for your run.

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How the healthcare sector is waking up to phishing threats [Q&A]

Doctor

The healthcare sector is a popular target for phishing attacks, yet it's failing to adopt simple measures like DMARC that could offer protection to both patients and staff.

A new report from cyber security company Agari reveals that fewer than 10 percent NHS Trusts and Boards in the UK have self-certified as using DMARC. Globally 77 percent of healthcare organizations don't have a DMARC policy.

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New platform aims to protect connected medical devices

Medical data risk

Healthcare providers are spending a lot of money on connected devices. But this comes at a time when cyber attacks on healthcare targets are increasing with medical devices a prime target.

Israeli start up Medigate has secured backing for a technology platform, that lets security teams defend networked medical devices from cyber attacks. It combines knowledge and understanding of medical workflow and device identity and protocols with the reality of today's cyber security threats.

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A quarter of UK healthcare IT pros not confident in response to cyber attacks

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According to a new report, one in four UK healthcare IT professionals aren't confident in their organization's ability to respond to cyber attacks.

Research from network intelligence company Infoblox finds that disruption caused to the NHS by WannaCry in May 2017 means many healthcare organizations are preparing themselves for further ransomware attacks.

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Over a third of IoT medical device organizations suffer security incidents

Healthcare tablet

As the internet of things spreads into more and more areas, increasing numbers of medical devices are now connected, making them vulnerable to cyber attacks that could shut down medical processes, expose critical hospital and patient data, and ultimately put patient safety at risk.

Many medical devices are not built with cybersecurity in mind, yet a survey by Deloitte Cyber Risk Services of over 370 professionals organizations operating in the medical device/IoT arena shows that 36.5 percent have suffered a cyber security incident in the past year.

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Google buys health monitoring startup Senosis Health

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Google's latest acquisition is Senosis Health, a Seattle-based startup focused on monitoring and diagnosing health conditions via mobile phones. This is not Google's first venture into the world of health, but it could signify its next big step.

Senosis Health, founded by Shwetak Patel, has transformed regular smartphones into medical devices that can be used to monitor everything from jaundice in babies to chronic respiratory diseases. The aim is to do as much as possible without the need for extra, specialist equipment.

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Cortana gets bikini ready with Fitbit skill

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While the wearable market hasn't exploded as many manufacturers had hoped, it is definitely popular for fitness. Although accuracy is sometimes in question, these devices can help people count steps, monitor heart rate, and more. It is not magic, however -- you must put in the effort to get in shape. In other words, the wearable can't do the exercise for you; trust me, I know...

One of the most popular fitness wearable brands is Fitbit, and today, its devices are getting even better. You see, Microsoft's virtual assistant, Cortana, can now work bidirectionally with a Fitbit account. You can ask the assistant for data from the account and she (her gender is a woman) will tell it to you. Conversely, you can tell Cortana to update your account with accomplishments. Very cool.

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How Zombies, Run! changes lives, and what's coming next [Q&A]

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Running is a great way to get fit and lose weight, but it’s rarely fun. London-based developer Six to Start has changed all that with Zombies, Run!, the most popular smartphone fitness game in the world, which transforms a boring run into an action-packed journey through the zombie apocalypse.

I’m a big fan, having used it since the early days, as well as other Six to Start apps, including The Walk, and Racelink. I spoke with Adrian Hon, CEO of Six to Start, and he told me about the app’s early days, and what’s next for the company.

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Healthcare industry most targeted by cyber attacks

Medical data risk

A new report into cyber security trends shows healthcare to be the most frequently targeted industry, with 164 threats detected per 1,000 host devices.

Next most targeted are education and media, which had 145 and 123 detections per 1,000 host devices, respectively. By comparison, the food and beverage industry came in as the least targeted industry with just 17 detections per 1,000 hosts.

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How Zombies, Run! got nearly 4 million downloads

Zombies, Run! logo

If you’ve developed an app then the last thing you want to see is it languishing in the app stores, attracting just one or two downloads a week. The dream is to see it "fly off the virtual shelf," attracting hordes of fans who willingly pay to use your app.

So, what is the secret? Unfortunately, just having a great idea isn’t enough. For every app success, there are 10 great ideas that just never get that much interest. But why?

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Technology will completely transform healthcare

Surgeons, doctors operating

Medical workers in the UK are confident that new technological solutions will be able to completely transform their industry for the better, a new survey has found.

Advances in technology which allow faster information flow and better solutions will contribute to making jobs much easier, according to a report from Epson.

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NHS hospitals hit by ransomware attack [Update: Now spreading globally]

Screen and stethoscope

Hospitals and doctors' surgeries across the UK have been hit by what is being described as a large scale ransomware attack.

The attack is believedto have begun at around 1:30 pm today. Areas affected include East and North Hertfordshire, North Cumbria, Blackpool, and Barts Health in London.

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Build 2017: Microsoft's 'Project Emma' is a wearable for Parkinson's disease sufferers

Emma

Today at Build 2017, Microsoft unveiled many cool new technologies, but there was one particular announcement that truly touched the hearts of many in attendance. Called "Emma," it is a wrist wearable that can help people suffering with Parkinson's disease.

The device is named after the Parkinson's sufferer that helped Haiyan Zhang, Innovation Director at Microsoft Research, create the device. What exactly does it do? Well, the incurable disease causes body tremors in those inflicted, and as a result, Emma has very shaky hands. This disease makes it impossible for her to draw straight lines or write legibly. With the wearable on her wrist, however, normal writing and drawing is possible. Remarkably, how it works isn't 100 percent known.

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