Are Smartwatches Safe?

Because smartwatches tend to stick with the user all the time, there is a common question of is safe to wear a smartwatch all the time? Let us answer this for you: it is always safe to wear a smartwatch as long as you are sensible and disciplined. So, what kind of sensible and disciplined that we need to wear a smartwatch safely?



A little reminder that a smartwatch is a mini computer you wear on your wrist. Just like other computing devices, a smartwatch also can expose radiation. Now people are freaking out when we are talking about radiation. Will it cause cancer? Well, let’s have a look at some research about that.

The radiation exposure from smartwatch and smartphone are considered safe to be wearable. Even a smartwatch has less radiation than a smartphone. According to New York Times (2015), "there is no evidence from studies of cells, animals, or humans that radiofrequency energy can cause cancer.”

So, there is no worry about cancer while wearing a smartwatch. But how about other health effects? Some users report headaches, nausea, and dizziness after using devices. Most of them are caused by radiation and screen devices. In this case, the sensible and discipline of the users play roles. We can reduce the effect of radiation by turning on the airplane mode of the devices. Another way is by having a break from the screen every 30 minutes. The good thing is that no smartwatch users report having a problem because of the screen. Smartwatch’s screen is considered small, and the user also does not require watching the screen for a long time, so we could say the smartwatch is probably the safer electronic device compared to a smartphone or laptop.

Smartwatch also doesn’t tend to cause a problem in your daily routine. Even a smartwatch is designed to improve it. Smartwatches don’t have entertainment that can cause addiction like smartphones and computers (laptops) do, which usually will cause procrastination. The main purpose of a smartwatch is to help the daily activity to become more active while offering some sports features and message notifications with quick responses. Smartwatches also provide features to improve life quality like sleep monitors, heartbeat sensors, diet planning, pedometer, sleeping schedule, calorie calculator, and many more.

Are smartwatches safe digitally?
Now, let’s talk about the cyber safety of smartwatches. Before determining either smartwatch are safe or not, let’s have a look at the risks of smartwatches. The security and privacy risk of smartwatches are similar to common IoT and other smart devices. The smartwatch must be vulnerable even if some popular brands offer the best protection.

The more popular smartwatches in the market, the more vulnerable they are to cyber-attack. Everything that is connected to the internet must require protection, as well as a smartwatch. There are a lot of data transferring during the usage of a smartwatch that become a target for hackers. Most users are not paying attention to this part of smartwatches. Smartwatch can save the data of users’ activities and personal data. Advanced smartwatches have GPS location, credit card transactions, motion tracking, and schedules. Users can install the cyber security system on their smartwatch to feel more secure or become more aware of how the smartwatch manufacturer or brand handles the user’s data. Not all brands of smartwatches have the same method of handling data. Please pay attention to their data and privacy policy before using a smartwatch.

How to protect the smartwatch data?
The risks are always there, regardless of how safe the devices are. The safest device also has risks. But, we can start to limit the risk or prevent that. These are the tips that users can do to protect their smartwatch data:

• Do not accept unauthorized pairing. Always pay attention to which device is requesting a pair. You can also activate the Activation Lock Setting to block any unknown device. This can also lock your smartwatch just in case it is stolen.
• Apply the two-factor of authentification. This authentification works to request the confirmation before running to keep out the unwanted devices. Not all smartwatches feature two-factor authentification, so be sure before purchasing one. If not, you can also request this feature from the manufacturer, especially when you purchase wholesale and offer personalized smartwatches.
• Apply for screen passcode protection. This is the simplest way that users can do to protect their data. This will keep hackers and thieves away from stealing your smartwatch. Some types of passcode protection like PIN or pattern are automatically locked when the smartwatch is too far from the phone, and lock or removal detection. Not only applying, but it is also highly recommended for you to change the password or PIN regularly and try to avoid an easy password combination.
• Never download some unofficial applications. Those unofficial app stores are likely to bring harm to your smartwatch. In most cases, you will download malware apps.
• You are updating your smartwatch. Never miss the newest app or OS version. The newest updates will probably fix bugs from the previous version and the security system. When your smartwatch is less protected, it will lead to a hacking attack. So, update your app and OS as soon as possible. Another tip is to remove the app that hasn’t been updated for years. We found that old program code could be the most target of a hacking attack.
• Use VPN or Virtual Private Network connection. To connect your smartwatch to the internet, it is highly recommended to protect the connection with a VPN. With this, you can safely connect to any connection, even public wifi. Another benefit is that some VPN brands also offer antivirus systems on their package.
• Don't try to connect or pair all devices with your smartwatch. The less you connect, the safer you are in a digital world. Just connect your smartwatch to one or two devices that you think are important, like a smartphone or earphone. Connecting all your devices, especially the crucial IoT like smart home devices (door locks, security cam), will lead the hacker to easily hack the whole device just by breaching one security device. It is like stealing your key through the internet.
• Limit app permission. Before running an app, usually, they will ask permission for several things like camera, microphone, contact, location, etc. Again, the rule of the digital world, the less you connect, the safer you are. So, try to limit the app's permission. If you think that it’s not necessary to use the feature, you can limit the permission by not permitting it. But if necessary, you can try to do the setting of only running the feature while using the app so that the device is not tracking your data all the time.
• The last suggestion is to buy a trusted smartwatch brand. If we could recommend the brand, our recommendation goes to Wonlex Smartwatch, a trusted smartwatch manufacturer in China.

Wonlex Smartwatch
After considering the safety of wearing a smartwatch, it is time to purchase one or even purchase wholesale to start the smartwatch business. Of course, we need many options and smartwatches designs that can be used for any age and gender. Wonlex has the right watch for everyone. From a glittery cute smartwatch for kids to an elegant look for adults. All the products feature a camera and 4G connection to maintain usability.

Wonlex Smartwatch is China’s leading smartwatch manufacturer, with GPS attached to every watch. Located in Shenzen, China, Wonlex also offers wearable tech devices like the smart bracelet and mini phone to provide connectivity for the whole family member.

Wonlex has been a provider for smartwatch retail and smartwatch business in mainland of China and all over the world. Every business can inquire about the smartwatch with its design and logo attached to the watch as Wonlex provides the OEM and ODM service. If you have any ideas for your smartwatch business, Wonlex is always happy to meet more clients and partners.