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Turn on location to find your fitbit?

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‎03-11-2016 02:44

‎03-11-2016 02:44

With the new update sync keeps asking to turn on location to find my fitbit - why?

 

Fitbit HR's work with Bluetooth and therefore do not need to know my location in order to sync and this has always been the case in the past.

 

Is Fitbit now tracking my location everytime I sync?  I've not given Fitbit permission to use location information so why does the app need it to sync???

 

Please advise.

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122 REPLIES 122

‎03-21-2017 04:29 - edited ‎03-21-2017 04:32

In response to Karenka

‎03-21-2017 04:29 - edited ‎03-21-2017 04:32

No need yo @Karen, a simple uuck search will get you the answer. 

There was a major security snafu  to you and your phones privacy found. Any Android with lollipop or older still has this security hole. 

It was discovered d that when an app requests the MAC of a Bluetooth device your phone is vulnerable to being hacked. 

Google came up with a fix that requires location services to be on medium an app can request a Bluetooth's 'MAC

Notice I said location services, the Fitbit app at this time of a sync does not request or needs to know your location, your phones OS doesn't require or request the location. 

It simply wants the door to be unlocked. 

 

So to sum it up, this change was made to protect your personal info on your phone and give you peace of mind, something that every lollipop user would like to have. 

 

Since your post is addressing your fellow Fitbit users, I'm not sure who the "You", is referring to. 

 

I notice that Garmon requires this also.

Best Answer

‎09-25-2018 17:42

In response to Iceman29

‎09-25-2018 17:42

I understand this is an old thread but turning location on "SUCKS". Indeed it has everything to do with 'privacy'. If you can sync other devices without the need to turn-on location, then FB should do the same.

 

I'm tired of having everything tracked and recorded. I have since sold my FITBIT. 

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0 Votes

‎09-26-2018 01:27

In response to Ares308

‎09-26-2018 01:27

When syncing the location of your phone is never requested, therefore location is never determined. JoweveH die to security concerns plugged by Google, location servives now need to be enabled.

Enebling location services is like putting a key in the door locked ck. No one says the door needs to open the door.

The fpaw that was patched? It was not really that bad, just tgat during the request for a BT Mac address, and durring this rewuest an unknown person would be able to gain full remote access to your phone. 

Best Answer