4 Essential data security strategies for wearable health app developers

By 2024, Deloitte estimates that there will be 440 million wearable devices worldwide. Enabling real-time health data collection, analysis, and transmission, these devices help address the shortage of healthcare professionals. Meanwhile, with healthcare costs rising and more patients with chronic diseases requiring medical attention, wearables can be utilised to monitor and treat patients more efficiently and effectively. These factors have all contributed to the rise of wearables, with IDC finding that the Indian wearable market reached a record 134.2 million devices shipped in 2023 – a 34 per cent increase over the previous year. For developers creating apps for these devices, robust security measures are essential to protect users’ data and maintain compliance with privacy laws. 

The growing risk of health data breaches

The growing popularity of these devices, however, also highlights potential risks. Due to wearables continuously collecting personal health information in real-time, they are high-privacy and high-security risk devices. 

Most notably, hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in mobile applications that connect to these devices. Indeed, a vulnerability evaluation of a healthcare app connected to a wearable device uncovered multiple security concerns, including seven from the OWASP Top 10 list and 23 communication risks, exposing sensitive patient data to potential attacks. Developers must take a proactive approach to safeguard this data.

Four ways to secure wearable health apps

To protect personal health data and gain the trust of users, wearable apps must have robust protections embedded within. Here are four practical approaches:

1. Comply with privacy laws and encrypt data

Wearable apps collect massive amounts of information from names to health measurements and location data. Without safeguards, attackers can access this data and use it for their own nefarious ends. Encrypting both data-at-rest and data-in-transit ensures that hackers are unable to access the data without the encryption keys.  To reduce exposure risks, developers should prioritise the encryption of important API data, such as tokens and keys.

2. Protect against malware

Wearable health applications can be infected by malware, especially if the user instals malicious applications masked as fitness tools. Often, this occurs because such applications request extra permissions, which may allow hackers to obtain critical information. While individual users can educate themselves and watch out for signs of ransomware attackers, it is hard for individuals to do as the signs are constantly changing as attackers evolve. To protect the wearable app, developers need to ensure that the operating system is secured with strong malware defences. Rooted or jailbroken devices give attackers more control, making the information easier to steal. Therefore, wearable applications should not run on jailbroken or rooted devices, and advanced protection methods should be used to prevent unauthorised access.

3. Implement basic data loss prevention (DLP)

The ability of wearables to collect and transmit data increases the risk of data leaks. Users may unintentionally expose sensitive data by copying it to other apps or taking screenshots that are automatically backed up. Developers should implement DLP strategies, such as disabling copy-and-paste functions, blocking screen recording, and preventing application screen sharing to protect data from unauthorised access.

4. Secure communication between the wearable app and device

Hackers’ prime target is often focusing on the communication between wearable devices and apps. Only authorised, authenticated organisations should be able to access and transmit data. To safeguard data-in-transit, developers should validate server certificates and employ encryption methods such as SSL/TLS. Certificate pinning ensures that the program only communicates with the intended server, decreasing the possibility of data being intercepted or manipulated.

The critical need for wearable app security

The significant growth of wearables underlines their relevance in healthcare and fitness. Statista reports that in 2024, the fitness tracker segment is projected to generate $ 1.5 billion. The need for real-time health monitoring and wellness devices drives this trend. As wearable technology becomes more popular, securing the mobile apps that manage it is critical.

Wearable technology has immense potential to improve patient care, but it also poses substantial risks. The rise in cyberattacks on health data highlights the importance of proactive security measures to protect patient information. Developers must prioritise securing wearable health apps to build user trust and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

To stay ahead, CXOs and development teams should focus on integrating agile security measures into their development workflows. This can be achieved through solutions that automate the building, signing, testing, and certifying security within the CI/CD pipeline. By focusing on encryption, malware defence, DLP strategies, and secure communication, developers can better protect the integrity of these apps and the sensitive data they handle.

References:

1. https://www2.deloitte.com/xe/en/insights/industry/technology/technology-media-and-telecom-predictions/2022/wearable-technology-healthcare.html 
2.  https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prAP51880624
3. https://www.statista.com/outlook/hmo/digital-health/digital-fitness-well-being/fitness-trackers/india