Popular menstrual cycle tracking apps are collecting intimate health data and sharing it with third parties, according to privacy analysis. The practice raises concerns about reproductive health information ending up in corporate databases.
Period tracking apps are systematically gathering sensitive health information and transmitting it to advertisers, data brokers, and other external companies. The apps typically collect details about cycle patterns, symptoms, and sexual activity—data that could be used for targeted advertising or sold to the highest bidder.
Users often have limited visibility into data sharing practices buried in lengthy terms of service. Many apps lack strong encryption or security protections for this particularly sensitive information.
The findings highlight a broader privacy problem in the health tech space. Users seeking convenient health tracking tools often trade detailed personal data for app functionality without fully understanding the consequences.
Privacy advocates recommend reviewing app permissions, reading privacy policies, and using apps with transparent data practices. Users concerned about reproductive data privacy should consider local, encrypted alternatives or pen-and-paper tracking methods.
France's data protection authority (CNIL) has fined Hôpital privé de la Loire €500,000 for failing to adequately protect the personal data of 727,000 patients and their relatives.
The FBI is investigating a possible security breach at an ID verification company that may have exposed driver's license scans belonging to millions of Americans. The agency confirmed the investigation to Bloomberg News on Thursday.
Attackers compromised Coder's Cloudflare infrastructure and injected malicious Terraform modules designed to steal credentials. The unauthorized registry servers delivered the infected packages to users.
A US senator has called on the NSA to provide official guidance on virtual private network selection and usage, citing confusion over the growing array of available options.