WASHINGTON — Even going for a jog now comes with cybersecurity risks.
Sensors that monitor movement are an important part of apps that monitor exercise or sleep. The sensors, called accelerometers, are used for mobile gaming.
But accelerometers have an inherent vulnerability, according to researchers at the University of Illinois.
They found that no two sensors are exactly alike, which means data from the sensor acts as a fingerprint of sorts for a smartphone.
That data could help attackers identify and track victims, even if they have chosen not to share their location.
The researchers are preaching vigilance, because there is no immediate solution to the problem.
For now, they say to be careful about giving apps access to accelerometer data.
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