Sometimes, danger doesn’t knock on the door.
It slips quietly into your pocket.
Every morning, millions of people wake up, tie their shoes, and tap a familiar icon on their iPhone. A fitness app. A promise of health. A record of steps, heartbeats, calories burned. It feels harmless—helpful, even. After all, what could be wrong with an app that encourages you to live better?
Yet behind the clean interface and motivational notifications, something else may be happening.
A recent report reveals that some iPhone fitness apps—especially popular ones like Fitbit—may be collecting and sharing far more personal data than users realize. And the unsettling part? This can happen even when you’re not actively exercising.
This isn’t a story meant to scare you.
It’s a reminder—to be aware, to be careful, and to take back control.
However, What Really Happens Behind the Screen?
According to a report analyzed by VPN company Surfshark, 16 popular iPhone fitness apps were examined using Apple App Store privacy data. The results were eye-opening.
On average, these apps collected 12 different types of personal data out of the 35 categories Apple allows developers to access. Even more concerning, 75% of these apps shared user data with third parties.
This process is known as tracking—when your data, such as:
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User ID
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Device ID
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Usage behavior
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Location patterns
is linked with external partners for advertising, analytics, or marketing purposes.
Among all the apps studied, Fitbit stood at the top.
Surfshark found that Fitbit collected up to 24 different data types, with 19 of them not essential for the app’s core function. That’s not just step counting anymore—that’s a detailed digital portrait of your life.
And while Strava used 21 types of data beyond basic functionality, other apps like Nike Training Club, Runna, and ALO Wellness Club also gathered extensive personal information—sometimes using sensitive data to target users with ads.
In contrast, Centr, a lesser-known fitness app, collected only three data types—proving that heavy data collection is often a choice, not a necessity.
Therefore, Why Should This Matter to You?
Because data is not just numbers.
Data is you.
It’s where you go.
When you sleep.
How often you move.
What motivates you.
And sometimes, what you fear.
When this data is shared with third parties, it can be used to:
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Build targeted advertising profiles
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Influence purchasing behavior
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Analyze lifestyle patterns
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Feed large marketing and analytics ecosystems
Most users never fully consent to this. The permission is hidden inside long terms and conditions—accepted in seconds, forgotten in moments.
And here’s the quiet truth:
Free apps often cost you your privacy.
This is why digital awareness is no longer optional. It’s essential.
If you care about your health, you should care just as much about the security of your personal data.
Moreover, How Can You Protect Yourself Starting Today?
The good news? You’re not powerless.
Apple does provide tools to limit tracking. iPhone users can enable “Ask Apps Not to Track”, preventing apps from sharing data with third parties for advertising. This single step already reduces exposure significantly.
But in today’s digital world, that alone is often not enough.
This is where trusted privacy services come in.
A high-quality VPN service, like the ones offered by Surfshark, helps:
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Encrypt your internet traffic
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Hide your IP address
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Prevent third-party trackers from profiling you
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Protect your data on public and private networks
Think of it as a digital shield—quiet, invisible, but always present.
For anyone using fitness apps, smartwatches, or health-tracking devices, a VPN isn’t just a tool—it’s an investment in peace of mind.
You train your body every day.
Why not protect your digital self with the same discipline?
Finally, A Gentle Reminder Before You Tap “Install”
Technology is not the enemy.
Carelessness is.
Fitness apps can still be helpful. They motivate us, guide us, and remind us to move when life feels too heavy. But awareness must walk alongside convenience.
Before installing any app:
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Read the privacy labels
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Review what data is collected
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Disable unnecessary permissions
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Use privacy-focused tools and services
Because once data is shared, it rarely comes back.
And one day, you may realize that the most valuable thing you own isn’t your phone, your watch, or your app subscription—but your privacy.
Protect it.
Care for it.
Just like you care for your body.