Every day, users rely on health apps connected to devices like blood pressure cuffs to monitor vital signs. However, depending on the app and user settings, sensitive health data—including blood pressure readings, glucose levels, weight, and medication schedules—may be stored in the cloud or shared with third-party service providers.

Recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cases have revealed that some health apps disclosed this sensitive information to advertising and analytics companies without users realizing it. Notably, BetterHelp agreed to pay $7.8 million after the FTC alleged it shared email addresses, IP addresses, and answers to personal health questions with companies such as Facebook, Snapchat, Pinterest, and Criteo for advertising purposes.

Additionally, data brokers are marketing health-related profiles that could be exploited by scammers. These profiles include postal addresses linked to conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (435,245 addresses), blindness or visual impairment (over 2.3 million), addiction (133,142), and bladder-control issues (857,449).

The FTC is pushing for clearer, plain-language warnings before technologies generate wellness data that is not protected under HIPAA. Users are encouraged to review app settings to limit data exposure.

Kurt Knutsson, an award-winning tech journalist for Fox News and FOX Business, highlights these concerns and offers resources such as the "Sick of Spam?" CyberGuy Live class replay and spam-stopping checklist to help users protect their information.

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