Tech Wear: The Future of Fashion or a Security Risk?

In 2015, the Apple Watch marked a turning point and changed our understanding of what a watch could be. While it wasn’t the first wearable device, it set a new standard by combining fashion with functionality—it could track health data, send messages and even make payments. What was once just a timepiece became a personal centre for health, communication and convenience that seamlessly integrates into our daily lives.

In years gone by, fashion and technology operated in separate spheres, each with different roles. Today, however, the boundaries are blurring. Tech wear or smart tech wear integrates digital functions directly into our clothes — jackets that heat at the touch of a button, sunglasses that answer calls and rings that monitor our health. Fashion is no longer just about style, but about technology that adapts and responds, making our clothes as smart as the data they carry..

However, like many other things that are related or in this sense, connected to tech, within the unpredictable cosmos of innovation, cybersecurity issues may rise to the surface.

Peter Kovalcik’s sent a cautionary note about the dangers that tech wear might pose in this article where he said, “Smart clothing often collects and stores sensitive personal data … Hackers can exploit this data for targeted attacks or trade it on the dark web.”

While tech wear may seem like the future of high fashion, if you’re embracing this trend now, there’s more at stake than just your style, as each piece of tech wear could potentially becomes a small Trojan horse in your wardrobe, a potential conduit for data breaches.

The Economics of Tech Wear Compromise Security

Economic pressures further muddy the waters. Tech wear is expensive, which limits its reach to the public, tempting companies to take shortcuts. Sergio A. Figueroa from Synopsys Software Integrity Group emphasises this trade-off saying, “The hard part is to build a product that is secure, robust, and affordable … and that only gets harder with time.” Each iteration of tech wear needs dedicated s

ecurity measures, as skipping these steps leads to gaping holes in cybersecurity.

In addition, the development cycle itself poses risks. New features and functions add to the complexity of each release, while previous models’ codebases remain vulnerable to exploitation. When a company tries to manage this complexity without sufficient resources, security becomes a casualty, and with it, consumer safety. In Sergio’s words, “security often gets the shorter stick.” This ever-growing number of vulnerable devices has created what feels like a ticking time bomb for hackers to exploit.

Health and Safety Benefits with a Dark Side

The evolution of smart wear brings significant benefits, especially in health monitoring. Tech-enhanced shoes, socks, and wearables can monitor vital signs and alert wearers to potential health issues. Think about it: a smart sock, developed to track foot health and circulation for elderly users, alerts family members if there’s a problem. The benefits are undeniable, but so are the risks. If hacked, that same sock could send misleading information or even interfere with emergency response features. Imagine being tricked into taking a health action based on compromised data—health tech wear becomes not a guardian of well-being but a threat.

Health isn’t the only field impacted. In military and defence, tech wear could theoretically become integral to uniforms, offering adaptive camouflage and sensory monitoring. However, in that scenario, the stakes are even higher. Cybercriminals could hack such wearables, disrupting critical missions and jeopardising lives. Peter from Check Point Software Technologies echoes these concerns stating “A successful cyberattack on any part of the supply chain could lead to widespread exploitation.” It’s one thing if your smartwatch miscounts steps but another altogether if a soldier’s tech-enabled gear provides false data.

Compromising the Privacy of Everyday Wearers

Privacy risks have only grown as tech wear becomes more sophisticated. Sensors embedded in tech wear monitor not only vital signs but location data and even financial transactions. Anyone wearing these garments is, in essence, broadcasting sensitive data with every step, exposing them to potential breaches. Figueroa emphasises this risk, noting that smart clothing “often collects and stores sensitive personal data.” Hackers, no strangers to opportunity, can use this data to craft highly targeted attacks.

Consider, for instance, a jacket equipped with a GPS module. A hacker could use this to track someone’s movements—a chilling prospect for privacy. The surveillance threat becomes more immediate with items like Levi’s smart jacket, designed in partnership with Google, which connects to your phone and can control music, answer calls, and more. A convenient accessory? Certainly. But also a potential bugged device, capable of broadcasting every conversation if compromised. It’s a modern version of “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” except the problem here is not invisibility but vulnerability.

Safety Features That Challenge Security

Ironically, many tech wear products are designed with safety in mind. RFID-blocking wallets, for example, keep credit cards from being scanned without permission. Masks or sunglasses that interfere with facial recognition provide a shield against unwanted surveillance. However, these products can only do so much if the tech wear itself remains unprotected. Cybercriminals continually adapt, finding new ways to bypass security features, and the tech industry must respond in kind with robust standards and innovative security solutions.

Akhil Mittal from Synopsys highlights the risks of neglecting security protocols. Devices made with lax security practices can become perfect hosts for malware like the Vo1d attack, a recent malware that cloaks itself as a regular file. Tech wear manufacturers, he argues, should adhere to “stronger industry standards” that include secure coding and routine updates. Without these measures, consumers risk inviting malware into their homes, disguised in the gadgets they wear.

Tech Wear: A Call for Security over Convenience (and Style)

Mitigating cybersecurity risks in tech wear is no longer a matter of adding a patch here and there. It requires an industry-wide approach that integrates security at every stage of development. Akhil advocates for manufacturers to take greater responsibility for the security of their products. Cutting corners is unacceptable, he suggests, if it means sacrificing security for the sake of marketability. Tech wear should be both stylish and secure, but that’s only possible if security is prioritised from the start.

Consumers, too, need to be discerning, by choosing products from manufacturers who treat cybersecurity as a priority. The trend toward interconnected devices is unlikely to slow, but as consumers, we can demand better security, making it clear that we value privacy over convenience. In a world increasingly saturated with data-collecting devices, it’s essential to navigate wisely, favouring secure products over flashy features.

Walking into the Future, Securely and Stylishly

Smart tech wear is an intriguing and thrilling development. It merges the futuristic and the functional, offering us enhancements in everyday safety, health, and communication. But this new age of wearables comes with a responsibility to both the individual and society to keep personal data and privacy safe. The challenge, ultimately, is not whether we will embrace tech wear but whether we can do so securely.

Fashion is on the cusp of a transformation where style not only attracts attention, but also raises important questions about safety and security. Tech wear offers exciting new opportunities for self-expression and convenience, but as we embrace the wearables of tomorrow, we need to prioritise protection.

With the increasing integration of technology into every aspect of our lives—think artificial intelligence—it’s clear that the ‘smart’ era doesn’t have to come at the expense of security. If you want to move forward in style, you shouldn’t compromise on security. Let’s make sure the future of tech wear is as secure as it is stylish.