You likely know about smartwatches. Apple watches have served as heart rate monitors, pedometers and more for years. Smart jewelry includes items like rings and pendants. These devices may function as health trackers and may alert the wearer to new texts, calls, or emails. Some can even function as a smart door key or bus pass. The capabilities depend on the device.
So what’s the problem? Think about the size of your smartphone. It has the physical space to accommodate the type of processor required for security. Rings, pendants, and watches need to be smaller and lighter. An International Journal of Network Security and Its Applications article highlighted concerns, including:
Leaky Bluetooth. The low energy Bluetooth signals many smart jewelry devices use can be used to track the wearer. These signals can also be used to eavesdrop or make other attacks.
Insecure information. Information leakage is when personally identifiable information is stolen. This can be your account transaction history, address or other personal details.
Little encryption or authentication. Devices with no authentication or insufficient authentication are vulnerable. They may be susceptible to many kinds of attacks and hacks. Devices without encryption can easily be hacked. That means any information transmitted to the device would be at risk.
There is hope. Motiv, a smart jewelry company known for its rings, has developed new technology. They intend to make their devices safer. Soon their devices will be equipped with two-factor authentication, a security staple. They are also implementing a new feature called “WalkID”. WalkID is designed to measure the wearer’s gait to confirm their identity during use. If a user is mobility-impaired or injured, users can choose to use a fingerprint or facial recognition function through their phone instead. Hopefully, other companies will follow suit.