- Military personnel are leaking data on Strava
- Public activities have been found around UK bases
- Keeping Strava runs private is a simple fix
If you need another reminder, make sure you’re careful about the Strava data you’re posting publicly and sharing with the world at large: a few days after a French naval officer gave away his warship’s location with a Strava run, sensitive data from more than 500 soldiers in the UK has been exposed as well.
An investigation from The i Paper turned up Strava routes and profile information posted by British military personnel at several sites across the UK — including bases in Northwood, Faslane, and North Yorkshire.
One of the runs posted publicly is labeled ‚Security Breach‘, suggesting the soldiers involved are aware that their activities can be seen — and aren’t too fussed about who might be looking at where they’re exercising.
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As pointed out in the report, the locations of these bases aren’t secret. However, Strava runs can give away details of which personnel are posted where, and how members of the military are being moved around.
‚Frankly ridiculous‘
The i Paper was able to identify submariners and their families via Strava activity logs posted around HMNN Clyde in Faslane, the home of the UK’s Trident nuclear submarines. Photos of warships entering the port have also been posted through the app.
„The fact that individuals are using personal accounts in a restricted area allows foreign states to piece together small pieces of information that you can potentially build up about an individual’s life,“ security expert Dan Lomas told The i Paper.
A UK military intelligence official approached for comment said it was „frankly ridiculous“ that this amount of information was being posted publicly — and by military service people at all levels, it would seem.
Whether or not your job is related to national security, you should be careful about the data you post to Strava. You can manage this through the Privacy Controls section of Settings — to find it, tap the cog icon up in the top right corner of the You tab in the Strava app on your phone.
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