SAN FRANCISCO — Information about location and staffing of U.S. military bases around the world has been revealed by a fitness-tracking company.<br /><br />The data was released by Strava in a data map that indicates all the activity tracked by users of the fitness app, the Guardian reported. <br /><br />The Global Heat Map published by Strava uses satellite information to plot the location and movements of its users over a two-year period by lighting up areas of activity. <br /><br />The app can be used on smartphones or fitness trackers to see running popular routes in cities, or track people in remote areas. <br />Military analysts discovered over the weekend the data also reveals sensitive information about U.S. soldiers on active service. <br /><br />Nathan Ruser, a researcher at the Institute for United Conflict Analysts, first discovered the oversight. <br /><br />"If soldiers use the app like normal people do, by turning it on tracking when they go to do exercise, it could be especially dangerous," Ruser said. <br /><br />In locations like Afghanistan, Djibouti and Syria, Strava users are almost all foreign military personnel, meaning their bases stand out brightly. <br /><br />Strava apps and devices can have their location services turned off. The company issued a statement urging users to visit their website to make sure they fully understand the privacy settings.
