VitaSpan guide · 4 min read
Apps that touch health topics ask for a lot of trust. One simple question tells you much of what you need: where does my information live?
What “local” means
When an app stores your records locally, the notes, saved providers and reminders you create live on your own phone rather than on the developer’s servers. There is nothing to breach on a company database, because the company never receives it.
What can still leave the device
Local storage is not the same as never touching the internet. A search of public provider data has to ask a public service. Maps, speech recognition, notifications and store services use their own providers. A trustworthy privacy policy lists these plainly.
Four questions to ask before installing
Read the privacy policy with these in mind.
- Do I need an account, and why?
- Which of my entries are stored on the device and which on a server?
- What leaves the device, and for which feature?
- Can I export or delete my information?
What VitaSpan does
VitaSpan does not require a Choral Software account. Records you create are stored locally; searches communicate with CMS, and optional features such as speech, maps, sharing, notifications and store services use their respective providers. The complete VitaSpan privacy policy spells this out so you can decide for yourself.
A habit worth keeping
Whatever app you use, take two minutes to read what it says about storage before you enter anything personal. It is the cheapest piece of digital safety there is.