Protect Your Privacy: A Guide to Essential Garmin Security Settings
Your Garmin device is a powerful tool, tracking everything from your morning run and sleep patterns to your daily stress levels. It compiles a detailed picture of your life, your health, and your habits. While this data is invaluable for hitting your fitness goals, it’s also deeply personal and deserves robust protection.
Many users set up their Garmin device and the Garmin Connect app without ever revisiting the security and privacy settings. Default configurations can often leave your data more exposed than you realize. Taking a few minutes to lock down your account isn’t just a good idea—it’s an essential step in safeguarding your personal information.
This guide will walk you through the critical settings you need to check to ensure your Garmin account and data are secure.
Fortify Your Core Account Security
Before you even open the Garmin Connect app, your first line of defense is your main Garmin account. This is what protects everything from your payment information in Garmin Pay to your years of activity history.
1. Use a Strong, Unique Password
This is the foundation of digital security. Avoid using common words, personal information (like birthdays), or passwords you use for other services. A strong password should be long and combine upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. If you have trouble remembering complex passwords, consider using a reputable password manager.
2. Activate Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
If you do only one thing after reading this article, make it this. Two-Factor Authentication is the single most effective tool for preventing unauthorized account access. It requires a second verification step—typically a code sent to your phone—in addition to your password, stopping anyone who may have stolen your login credentials.
Here’s how to set it up:
- Log in to your account at my.garmin.com from a web browser.
- Navigate to the “Sign-In Security” section.
- Find the Two-Factor Authentication setting and turn it on.
- You will be given two options: using an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator or Authy) or receiving codes via SMS text message.
- We strongly recommend using an authenticator app. It is more secure than SMS, which can be vulnerable to SIM-swapping attacks.
Once enabled, you will need both your password and a code from your app to log in from a new device, effectively locking out intruders.
Master Your Garmin Connect Privacy Settings
With your main account secured, it’s time to control who sees your activity data within the Garmin Connect app. By default, your profile and activities might be visible to everyone. This can reveal sensitive information, such as your running routes, workout schedules, and even your home or office location.
Open the Garmin Connect app and navigate to Settings > Profile & Privacy. Here’s what to review:
Profile and Activity Privacy
You have granular control over who sees your profile information and your individual activities. For each, you can choose from four privacy levels:
- Everyone
- My Connections
- My Connections and Groups
- Only Me
For maximum privacy, set both your Profile and your Activities to “Only Me” or, at a minimum, “My Connections.” Setting them to “Everyone” means any stranger can view your full name, profile picture, and detailed maps of where you run, walk, or cycle every day.
Group Invitations
To avoid spam and unsolicited contact from strangers, you can control who is allowed to add you to groups.
- In the privacy settings, find the option for Groups.
- Change this setting from “Everyone” to “My Connections.” This will prevent random users from adding you to potentially malicious or annoying groups.
A Special Note on LiveTrack Safety
LiveTrack is a fantastic feature that allows friends and family to follow your activity in real-time on a map. It’s perfect for giving a loved one peace of mind during a long run or bike ride in a remote area. However, it requires careful handling.
The LiveTrack session is shared via a unique link. Anyone with this link can see your exact location.
- Only share the LiveTrack link with people you absolutely trust.
- Avoid posting the link on social media or in public forums.
- Always ensure your LiveTrack session has ended when your activity is complete. The app should do this automatically, but it’s wise to double-check.
Manage Third-Party App Connections
Many of us connect our Garmin account to other services like Strava, MyFitnessPal, or training platforms. Each connection is a potential access point to your data.
It’s good practice to periodically review which apps have access to your Garmin account. If you see a service you no longer use, revoke its access immediately. Be selective about which new apps you authorize, and always review the permissions they are requesting.
By taking these proactive steps—enabling 2FA, tightening your in-app privacy settings, and being mindful of features like LiveTrack—you can continue to enjoy the full benefits of your Garmin device with the confidence that your personal data is secure.
Source: https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/garmin-privacy-settings/53920/
