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Health app forces tracking on everyone and logs it!

X

X-X

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 22, 2014
401
9
How do you disable the constant tracking of steps and movement in the health app?

Did Apple really decide to not allow you to turn the logging of your every move off?

How much I move and walk is pretty personal data and my iPhone collects it without my consent.
 
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X-X said:
How do you disable the constant tracking of steps and movement in the health app?

Did Apple really decide to not allow you to turn the logging of your every move off?

How much I move and walk is pretty personal data and my iPhone collects it without my consent.
Click to expand...

Actually the sensor inside the iPhone 5s and 6/6plus known as the M7 or M8 coprocessor stores and processes all movement data. Apps must be given access to use it so check privacy settings.

It only stores data for 7 days however and the apps must save it locally.
 
afsnyder said:
Apps must be given access to use it so check privacy settings.
Click to expand...

No, Apple's Health app constantly logs every movement (steps, stairs, running, walking distance) and I don't see ANY WAY to turn it off.

It just does it and stores it... always.

This is pretty sensitive data, I don't want it to be logged.
 
You turn it off by turning off location services in general. It's not the Health app that keep track, it's the chip, through iOS. It then feeds the data to Health (and any third-party apps you may authorize).
 
But that would mean I can't use maps or anything, that's ridiculous.

I just don't want my every move recorded and logged inside the Health app, why are they forcing this on everyone?

Just because the chip can do it doesn't mean you have to record and store it without user consent and without a way to turn it off.

Sucks big time, really creepy.
 
I have everything turned off except Find my iPhone and it still logs the steps. This is not something that bothers me but I understand why some people prefer to have the option to disable it.

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X-X said:
No, still keeps logging everything.
Click to expand...


Do you think it affects battery life? Maybe minimal impact?
 
X-X said:
No, Apple's Health app constantly logs every movement (steps, stairs, running, walking distance) and I don't see ANY WAY to turn it off.

It just does it and stores it... always.

This is pretty sensitive data, I don't want it to be logged.
Click to expand...

Just relax man. You'll be ok. Its measuring what type of movement, not where you are.
 
It still sensitive health data and it's logged without my consent.

It makes me sick that Apple is forcing this.
 
X-X said:
How much I move and walk is pretty personal data and my iPhone collects it without my consent.
Click to expand...

1. How is that 'pretty personal'? I get that it's YOU PERSONALLY doing the moving, but beyond that very strict statement, I ask... what is the big deal?

2. You gave consent when you agreed to the terms and conditions.

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X-X said:
It still sensitive health data and it's logged without my consent.

It makes me sick that Apple is forcing this.
Click to expand...

You gave consent by agreeing to terms and conditions.

No one is forcing you.

How is this 'health data'?

Answer truthfully... are you a shill sent here to make thinking people look bad? This thread is ridiculous.
 
powerstrokin said:
How is this 'health data'?
Click to expand...


What distances I walk every day, how many steps, how many stairs, how much I run, with exact time stamps....

...YES that is sensitive health data.

And it's freaking creepy at best, that you can not turn it off.
 
X-X said:
It still sensitive health data
Click to expand...

really..? no its not & we all(or most should) know this..its damn steps taken not where u are or where u went..& how is it sensitive health data? what are u embarrassed u take 200 steps a day cause u drive absolutely everywhere even to the mcdonalds 1 block away or something..?
 
Yun0 said:
really..? no its not & we all(or most should) know this..its damn steps taken not where u are or where u went..& how is it sensitive health data? what are u embarrassed u take 200 steps a day cause u drive absolutely everywhere even to the mcdonalds 1 block away or something..?
Click to expand...

OP should get rid of the cell phone altogether, close the blinds, hug knees, and rock back and forth.

For surely, the end is nigh.
 
zorinlynx said:
I probably shouldn't mention to the OP that this info is stored only locally and not in the cloud, right? :)
Click to expand...

Prove that it isn't in the cloud. ;)

It's all on a server somewhere.

OP just thinks this information is special and needs to be in a locked box, for who knows what reason. He/she has yet to explain that one.
 
powerstrokin said:
Prove that it isn't in the cloud. ;)

It's all on a server somewhere.

OP just thinks this information is special and needs to be in a locked box, for who knows what reason. He/she has yet to explain that one.
Click to expand...

This page says that the only thing that would be in the cloud is backups which are not only optional, but are encrypted end to end.

The Health app lets you keep all your health and fitness information in one place on your device and under your control. The information you generate about yourself is yours to use and share. You decide what information is placed in Health and which apps can access your data through the Health app. When your phone is locked with a passcode or Touch ID, all of your health and fitness data in the Health app is encrypted. You can back up data stored in the Health app to iCloud, where it is encrypted while in transit and at rest.
Click to expand...

In other words, its only on the cloud if you want it to. Now you make a claim that says that it is not the case. So outside of the one exception that you have to opt in to, can you prove your statement correct with a cite?
 
If you are worried about a company tracking sensitive data then why do you have a cell phone. I would be more worried about my phone calls and texts myself.

And if you are worried about being busted because you are collecting workman's comp then you are a despicable person and should be busted.

If you want your privacy then live off the grid and don't go out in public. The only place you have privacy is inside your house.
 
Compa49 said:
I would be more worried about my phone calls and texts myself.
Click to expand...

Ecxept that I can turn off messages, I can turn off phone calls (if I wanted).

I can not turn off the fact that my iPhone tracks and logs my every move in every detail including time stamps.

A simple off switch would be extremely easy to implement, but Apple for some reason doesn't want anybody to turn it off.

And the fact that Apple are already in talks with insurance companies about sharing that data, doesn't give me any more confidents in this forced "feature".

Compa49 said:
collecting workman's comp
Click to expand...

I've never even heard about it.
 
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