Nike+iPod Scare Mongering

A report was recently published by the University of Washington about the Nike+iPod sports kit, specifically that the wireless communication between the shoe sensor and the iPod can be intercepted. Rather than comment on the science behind how this works or that it is in fact pretty harmless, as no confidential data is being transmitted they open with the bold claim that

“our research shows that the wireless capabilities in this new gadget can negatively impact a consumer’s personal privacy and safety.”

Safety? What?

Well, sure someone could track you with your iPod sports kit and about $250 worth of electronics equipment, but then again, someone could put on a cheap pair of running shoes and follow you.

The report goes on to say that

“As part of our research, we built a number of surveillance tools that malicious individuals could use to track Nike+iPod Sport Kit owners”

Why would anyone want to do this? Its not like the thing stores your credit card details or social security number. First of all, you’d have to know the individual you were planning to track was wearing a Nike+iPod sports kit, and secondly there are much easier ways to follow someone. Seriously, what kind of malicious individual do they really think will take advantage of this? A serial killer with a penchant for Nike and iPod toting marathon trainees perhaps?

Spies? I think they’d have more sophisticated ways of tracking someone, and again, they’d have to have a mark that was actually wearing one of the sports kits and what are the chances.

This whole report, while factual in the sense that yes, your Nike+iPod sports kit does provide a wireless communication that can be intercepted, is complete nonsense in the implication that you are going to be subject to some heinous crime just by using one. So for all of you who use this little device to monitor your run I don’t think you need to wrap your running shoes in tinfoil just quite yet.

Biometric passports, now that’s another story….

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPod

No related posts.