There are different virtual private networks available on the internet nowadays. Most of them are used to gain access to blocked content. While some of them, actually the good ones that come with different features, are used to maintain personal privacy and increase security while surfing the internet.
For example, surfshark allows you to gain access to restricted content and helps in protection against cyber threats. Apart from that, it also helps you speed up the internet connection and offers a kill switch for an extra layer of security.
Due to these features, virtual private networks are widely used and are available on almost every device. But the question is whether these apps can affect the fitness tracker’s data or not, and it is because your fitness trackers are directly connected to your tablets or smartphone.
Read on to learn everything about it!
Can VPN Interfere with Fitness Tracking Apps?
Fitness tracking apps like Fitbit, Apple HealthKit, Google Fit, etc., use Bluetooth technology to connect to their devices.
This means they need to be paired before using them. And once this process is done, the fitness app will automatically collect data.
This includes steps taken, distance traveled, calories burnt, heart rate, sleep quality, etc.
However, if you have installed any kind of VPN on your phone, then there is a chance that your fitness tracker might get affected by it. Although the devices are connected through Bluetooth, the data is sent to the cloud via a VPN.
If the cloud server has specific restrictions against IP addresses, then there is a higher chance that your VPN will not let the data be uploaded to the cloud.
Why is This Possible?
The reason behind this is that when you install a VPN app on your phone, it changes the IP address of your device.
So instead of connecting to the public IP address of your router (which is usually 192.168.1.1 etc.), your device connects to the IP address assigned by the VPN server. However, when you are connected to a VPN, you will be assigned a new IP address which is temporary but hidden from the public.
This can affect the communication between the device and the app server. In some cases, the device might appear connected from another location. Due to security reasons, the server can even block your access from it due to the frequently changing IP address.
But You Shouldn’t Worry!
However, there is no need to worry because your data will not be lost, and it will still be on the app. It is because the app is connected to the tracker via Bluetooth technology, and virtual private networks work on the internet connection only.
They cannot interfere with other types of connections, such as Bluetooth. So, your fitness tracker should continue working normally without any issues. However, if you are still having issues (which never happens, though!), you will need to disconnect the VPN and see if the app works.
Conclusion
The use of Virtual Private Networks has increased in the past few years. This is not only due to the fact that they provide access to restricted content. But they can also help secure the connection and defend against hundreds of cyber threats out there.
However, one of the main things that most people are concerned with is whether VPN can interfere with other sensors or not. Most importantly, can it affect the data provided by the fitness trackers or not.
In this article, we’ve explained when a VPN can create hurdles. To conclude the whole information, a Virtual private network only works on the internet. It has nothing to do with other sensors; therefore, the data coming from a fitness tracker (via Bluetooth) will be safe from interference.
However, you may face issues while uploading it to the server due to the changed IP address.
