Jakarta. An investigation by French newspaper Le Monde found that the movements of US President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris and other world leaders were tracked through the fitness app they use, Strava. It turned out to be easy. bodyguard.
According to Le Monde, some U.S. Secret Service agents and security personnel for leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin have Strava profiles that reveal sensitive information. It is said that there is. In a recent video investigation, the newspaper found that U.S. Secret Service agents were using the app after the recent Trump assassination attempt. The app is popular among runners and cyclists and allows users to publish and share their routes.
One notable example is Mr. Macron’s bodyguards, whose Strava data allowed journalists to track Mr. Macron’s private weekend trip to Honfleur in 2021. Additionally, the Strava profile reportedly revealed the location of Biden’s San Francisco hotel ahead of his arrival for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2023. The Secret Service does not authorize the use of personal devices during missions, he said, adding, “We will review this information in the future.” Determine whether additional training is required. ”
In total, Le Monde identified 26 U.S. employees, 12 French GSPR members, and six Russian FSO members responsible for presidential security who had public Strava accounts. The newspaper declined to identify the operatives, but noted that such public profiles could allow security personnel to be tracked before the leader’s arrival, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities.
The French presidential office downplayed the report’s security implications, saying there was “no risk,” but ordered authorities to stop using the app. The Harris campaign deferred comment to federal authorities, while the Trump campaign did not directly address the issue.
Ibrahim Baggili, a cybersecurity expert at Louisiana State University, highlighted the broader risks of fitness apps, noting that user data is often shared or sold, raising privacy concerns. He called for stricter regulation of the use of consumer data and warned of its potential for use in stalking and other crimes.
The report notes that exposing security personnel’s identities on Strava could reveal personal information, such as addresses and family information, that could be exploited by adversaries.
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