Strava
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![]() An activity shown on the Strava website | |
Developer(s) | Strava, Inc |
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Initial release | 2009 |
Stable release | |
Operating system | Android, iOS 13 or later, Web browser |
Size | 138.8 MB (iOS); 44.85 MB (Android) |
Available in | 14 languages[3][2] |
List of languages English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese(Portugal), Portuguese(Brazil), Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish(Spain), Spanish(Latin America) and Traditional Chinese | |
Type | Fitness |
License | Proprietary |
Website | strava |
Strava is an American internet service for tracking human exercise which incorporates social network features. It is mostly used for cycling and running using Global Positioning System data.[4] Strava uses a freemium model with some features only available in the paid subscription plan. The service was founded in 2009 by Mark Gainey and Michael Horvath and is based in San Francisco, California.
Overview
Strava records data for a user's activities which can then be shared with the user's followers or shared publicly. If an activity is shared publicly, Strava automatically groups activities that occur at the same time and place (such as taking part in a marathon, sportive or group ride). An activity's recorded information may include a route summary, elevation (net and unidirectional), speed (average, minimum, maximum), timing (total and moving time), power and heart rate. Activities can be recorded using the mobile app or from devices manufactured by third parties like Garmin, Google Fit, Suunto, and Wahoo. Activities can also be entered manually via the Strava website.
Strava Metro, a program marketed towards city planners, uses cycling data from Strava users in supported cities and regions.[5][6]
Features and tools
Strava incorporates social media features which allow users to post their exercises to followers. Alongside a GPS map of their exercise users can also post pictures. Followers can then comment on posts and give 'kudos' in the form of a like button.
Beacon is a feature that allows Strava users to share their location real time with anyone they choose to, and nominate others as a safety contact for their workout.
Users can also enter virtual exercise events on the platform.
Privacy concerns
In November 2017, Strava published a "Global Heatmap"—a "visualization of two years of trailing data from Strava's global network of athletes."[7] In January 2018, an Australian National University student studying international security discovered that this map had mapped military bases, including known U.S. bases in Syria, and forward operating bases in Afghanistan, and HMNB Clyde—a Royal Navy base that contains the United Kingdom's nuclear arsenal.[8][9][10][11] The findings led to continued scrutiny over privacy issues associated with fitness services and other location-aware applications; Strava's CEO James Quarles stated that the company was "committed to working with military and government officials" on the issue, and would be reviewing its features and simplifying its privacy settings.[12][13] Although users can now opt out of having their data aggregated on the global heatmap, the original data that contains sensitive information has been archived on GitHub.[14][15]
Strava's default settings also reveal the start and finish points of publicly visible activities and may therefore expose users' home locations or other sensitive information. However, users can conceal this information using the Privacy Zone feature.
See also
References
- ^ "Strava: Track Running, Cycling & Swimming APKs – APKMirror". APKMirror.
- ^ a b "Strava: Run, Ride, Swim". App Store.
- ^ "Changing your language in the Strava App". Strava. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
- ^ "Supported Activity Types on Strava". Strava Support. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
- ^ Walker, Peter (May 9, 2016). "City planners tap into wealth of cycling data from Strava tracking app". The Guardian. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
- ^ MacMichael, Simon (May 7, 2014). "Strava moves into 'big data' – London & Glasgow already signed up to find out where cyclists ride". Road.cc. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
- ^ Robb, Drew (April 4, 2018). "Building the Global Heatmap – strava-engineering". Strava Engineering. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
- ^ Hern, Alex (January 23, 2018). "Fitness tracking app gives away location of secret US army bases". The Guardian. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ "Fitness tracker highlights military bases". BBC News. 2018. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
- ^ "Strava Endangering the Military Accidentally". Crash Security. January 28, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- ^ Liptak, Andrew (January 28, 2018). "Strava's fitness tracker heat map reveals the location of military bases". The Verge. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
- ^ "Strava's fitness heatmaps are a 'potential catastrophe'". Engadget. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
- ^ "Strava will focus on privacy awareness to address security issues". Engadget. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
- ^ Hern, Alex (January 29, 2018). "Strava suggests military users 'opt out' of heatmap as row deepens". The Guardian. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ^ Schwartz, Mathew (January 28, 2018). "Feel the Heat: Strava 'Big Data' Maps Sensitive Locations". www.bankinfosecurity.com. Retrieved April 2, 2020.