How can you keep your mobile device secure while using health apps?

Health apps can help you monitor your fitness, track your symptoms, manage your medications, and more. But they can also pose risks to your privacy and security if you don't take precautions. In this article, you'll learn how to keep your mobile device secure while using health apps, and what to look for before downloading or using them.

1 Choose apps carefully

Not all health apps are created equal. Some may collect, store, or share your personal or health information without your consent or knowledge. Others may have weak security features or contain malware that can compromise your device or data. To avoid these pitfalls, you should research the app's developer, reviews, ratings, permissions, privacy policy, and security practices before installing or using it. You should also avoid downloading apps from untrusted sources or clicking on suspicious links or attachments.

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Alejandro Felix Abdo

Ayudando a disminuir los riesgos digitales y aumentar la privacidad. Ubi societas, ibi ius
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Bajo la Ley Federal de Protección de Datos Personales en Posesión de Particulares (LFPDPPP), es esencial ejercer tus derechos ARCO (Acceso, Rectificación, Cancelación y Oposición) al utilizar aplicaciones de salud. Puedes solicitar a las aplicaciones la información que poseen sobre ti, corregir datos inexactos, cancelar su uso o incluso oponerte al tratamiento de ciertos datos. Además, asegúrate de revisar y ajustar los permisos de la aplicación para limitar la recopilación de datos innecesarios. También solicitar a las aplicaciones la opción de no rastrear y respetar tu privacidad. Informate sobre las políticas de privacidad de las aplicaciones y toma medidas para ejercer tus derechos según lo establecido en la ley de protección de datos.

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2 Use strong passwords and encryption

One of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your mobile device and health apps is to use strong passwords and encryption. A strong password is one that is long, complex, unique, and hard to guess. You should use a different password for each app and change them regularly. You should also enable encryption on your device and any removable storage media, such as SD cards, that you use to store your health data. Encryption scrambles your data so that only authorized parties can access it.

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Alejandro Felix Abdo

Ayudando a disminuir los riesgos digitales y aumentar la privacidad. Ubi societas, ibi ius
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Además de utilizar contraseñas seguras y cifrado, es crucial habilitar la autenticación de dos factores (A2F) siempre que sea posible. La A2F proporciona una capa adicional de seguridad al requerir una segunda forma de verificación, como un código enviado a su teléfono o una huella digital, además de la contraseña. Esto dificulta aún más el acceso no autorizado a sus aplicaciones de salud, incluso si alguien logra obtener su contraseña.

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3 Update your device and apps

Another important step to keep your mobile device and health apps secure is to update them regularly. Updates often contain patches or fixes for security vulnerabilities, bugs, or errors that could expose your device or data to hackers or malware. You should check for updates frequently and install them as soon as possible. You should also delete any apps that you no longer use or that are no longer supported by the developer.

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4 Limit your data sharing

Even if you trust the app and its developer, you may not want to share your health data with third parties, such as advertisers, researchers, or insurers. Some apps may ask for your permission to share your data for various purposes, such as improving the app's functionality, providing personalized recommendations, or conducting studies. You should read the terms and conditions carefully and opt out of any data sharing that you are not comfortable with. You should also review your app settings and disable any features that allow the app to access your location, contacts, camera, microphone, or other sensitive information.

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Alejandra F.
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Always check the permissions the app needs. A lot of the "malware" on mobile phones is just phony permissions by rogue apps. If you think an app that asks for a camera permission to work does not need it, don't install it. Same with all other permissions, report apps to the store so that they are checked and / or removed if you think there's something wrong with them.

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Alejandro Felix Abdo

Ayudando a disminuir los riesgos digitales y aumentar la privacidad. Ubi societas, ibi ius
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Cerrar sesión cuando no estés usando la aplicación: Cierra sesión en las aplicaciones de salud cuando no las estés utilizando. Esto ayuda a proteger tus datos en caso de que tu dispositivo caiga en manos equivocadas. Permisos de aplicación: Revisa y ajusta los permisos de las aplicaciones. Concede solo los permisos necesarios para que la aplicación funcione correctamente. Si una aplicación no necesita acceso a la cámara, micrófono, ubicación u otros datos sensibles, desactívalos.

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5 Use a VPN or secure Wi-Fi

When you use your mobile device and health apps, you may connect to the internet via Wi-Fi or cellular networks. However, not all networks are secure or reliable. Some may be unencrypted, intercepted, or spoofed by hackers or cybercriminals who can steal your data or infect your device with malware. To prevent this, you should use a virtual private network (VPN) or a secure Wi-Fi network when accessing your health apps. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address, making it harder for anyone to track or spy on you. A secure Wi-Fi network is one that requires a password and uses encryption protocols, such as WPA2 or WPA3.

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Solomon Pathinathan

Leading Innovative Mobile Solutions | Transforming Ideas into Apps
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1. Avoid storing clear text HIPAA/PII information on device 2. If needed encrypted PII information could be stored 3. Make fullest use of biometrics auth and MFA 4. Bot protection tokens should be used and validated at server to avoid bot attacks 5. Certificate pinning should be used for MiM attack. 6. Checksum validation of app code should be used to identify binary tampering 7. Device finger prints and location information could be used to prevent unauthorized access.

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6 Backup your data

Finally, you should backup your data regularly to avoid losing it in case of theft, damage, or malfunction of your device or apps. You can backup your data to a cloud service, such as Google Drive or iCloud, or to an external device, such as a hard drive or a USB stick. You should make sure that your backup service or device is also secure and encrypted, and that you can access or restore your data easily if needed.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you keep your mobile device secure while using health apps?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Choose apps carefully

2 Use strong passwords and encryption

3 Update your device and apps

4 Limit your data sharing

5 Use a VPN or secure Wi-Fi

6 Backup your data

7 Here’s what else to consider

Mobile Technology

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How can you keep your mobile device secure while using health apps?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Choose apps carefully

2 Use strong passwords and encryption

3 Update your device and apps

4 Limit your data sharing

5 Use a VPN or secure Wi-Fi

6 Backup your data

7 Here’s what else to consider

Mobile Technology

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