Is Family360 Safe?

If you use or plan to use Family360, you need to know: Is Family360 safe? 

Below, we explain whether Family360 is: 

• Safe to use. 
• Good for privacy. 

We also look at some steps you can take to improve both your safety and privacy when using this online service. 

What Is Family360?

Family360 is a phone app that helps families stay safe through live location tracking and chat tools. 

Family360 features include:

• Live location tracking with ETAs and routes. 
• Real-time alerts from members who arrive/leave destinations. 
• Alerts when a family member crosses the speed limit. 
• Stolen/lost phone tracking. 
• Location history. 
• “Send SOS” button for emergencies. 

Is Family360 Safe?

Depends on your definition of “safe.” 

There’s not a lot of information available about Family360 beyond its own website, though it does get a 4.8 out of 5.0 rating and has 17.9k reviews (from 1+m downloads) on Google Play and a 4.9 out of 5.0 rating (out of 51 ratings) on the App Store.

Family360 utilizes data encryption to protect user information from unauthorized access while data is in transit, although its website does not specify what type of encryption is used.

No major data breaches have been associated with Family360 at the time of writing.

Is Family360 Private?

Again, it’s hard to find reliable information about Family360 outside its own site, so it’s difficult to judge how private the app is.

On its site, Family360 says, “We DO NOT SELL your location data to anyone.”

In its privacy policy, Family360 outlines that it collects personal information, including email address, first and last name, phone number, home address, and usage data. It utilizes cookies for some of its tracking.

When users join Family360, they are typically required to accept an invitation to join a specific family group, meaning the information is confined to that closed circle.

The Common Sense Privacy Program, which reviews internet services’ privacy policies from the perspective of kids’ privacy, gives Family360 a “Warning” rating. This means the app “Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.”

The Common Sense Privacy Program notes that while Family360 does not sell or rent data to third parties, it does share it with third parties. 

In addition, personalized ads are displayed, third parties collect data for their own purposes, it’s unclear whether the product uses a user’s information to track and target ads on other websites, and it’s unclear whether it uses data profiles for personalized ads.

How to Improve Your Safety and Privacy On Family360

Follow the below steps for a safer and more private experience while using Family360.

• Limit family group members. Only invite trusted individuals to your Family360 group. By keeping the circle small and limited to immediate family members, you minimize the chances of information being shared beyond your comfort level.
• Review location sharing settings. Regularly review and adjust location-sharing preferences. Family360 usually allows you to pause or customize when your location is shared. Use these options to only share your location during specific times, such as when commuting. 
• Use geofencing sparingly. Geofencing alerts can be helpful, but only set geofences for essential locations like home, school, or work. Minimizing the number of geofences reduces unnecessary data sharing.
• Check app permissions. Only grant the permissions necessary for the app to function and turn off any access that isn’t required.
• Regularly update passwords. Use strong, unique passwords for your Family360 account.
• Stay updated on privacy policies. Family360’s privacy policies may change over time. Regularly check the policy to stay informed about how your data is being used, stored, and shared.
• Update the app regularly. Keep Family360 updated to the latest version to benefit from security patches and new features. Regular updates help protect your account from vulnerabilities.