Go to any run club in the world and there’s a good chance that everyone there has two things: a Garmin smartwatch to track their run and a Strava account to brag about it. Given the global running boom, it makes Strava’s lack of any modern, in-app training plans a curious and glaring omission. Or, at least, it was until today as Strava is acquiring Runna.
Technology
Strava acquires massively popular Runna app
For those who don’t torture themselves with a 6AM daily run, this is big news — even if the companies are keeping mum on the deal’s financial details. Strava is the most well-known fitness social media app on the market. Meanwhile, Runna burst onto the scene in 2021 and has quickly climbed the app charts for folks in need of 5K, 10K, or marathon training plans. Since launch, it’s secured an additional $6.3 million in funding for its AI-powered run coaching, with users spanning 180 countries. In 2024, Runna also tripled the size of its team and is currently hiring roughly 50 roles to expand the product and tech. Peruse running subreddits or RunTok, and you’ll invariably see someone asking about or recommending the app.
The deal seems like a win-win for Strava and Runna. Strava gets to shore up one of its biggest weaknesses — the lack of running training plans. For Runna, it gets access to one of the largest online running communities and Strava’s coffers.
“For a while, Strava had created static, document-based plans for runners but the reality is those were used very, very infrequently,” Strava CEO Michael Martin says. According to the company’s research, the lack of guidance was a pain point for longtime users and newcomers to the app. “We came to realize that, as it related to runners, that guidance was training plans.”
There’ll be a short wait before Strava and Runna users see changes from the acquisition.
“Effectively, nothing changes for the user out of the gate. Our plan with this acquisition is to invest further into growing the Runna app, invest in the Runna team, and then continue to operate them as independent but in an integrated fashion,” Martin says, adding that once the deal is fully wrapped, users can expect to start seeing changes in the coming weeks and months.
“The ambition is to do things where it makes sense,” adds Runna cofounder and CEO Dom Maskell, who notes a more seamless integration between the two apps would help create a smoother user experience. “It’s like, the user comes on and they want to see what run they’re doing today. That sits in Runna, and then they want to go find a route for that run — that sits in Strava. Then, if they want live coaching, that’s on Runna and then Strava frankly has better tech than us for recording on your phone. At the moment, the user kind of gets passed off quite a lot of times.”
“…I genuinely believe this is an amazing thing for all users. I’m happy to tell everyone about it and sit on Reddit for the whole day to answer everyone’s questions.”
One thing that hasn’t been decided yet is how subscriptions will work. Strava has a free tier but charges $79.99 a year for premium features, while Runna costs $119.99 annually. While Runna currently uses Strava’s third-party API, until the details are hammered out, users will still need to subscribe to both services to get the full range of features. When pressed further on the issue, Martin says he envisions the Runna acquisition to be more akin to when the company bought Recover Athletics, a prehab and injury prevention app, than when it acquired FATMAP, a 3D-mapping platform. With a Strava subscription, Recover Athletics is essentially a free perk but functions as a separate app. FATMAP’s app, however, was retired in late 2024 and its tech/features were incorporated into Strava.
Subscriptions will be a thorny issue for both Strava and Runna users. Over the past few years, the r/Strava subreddit has been rife with accusations of enshittification, with many directing their ire toward the app paywalling features. Generally, users tend to react badly to any changes in subscriptions or smaller brands getting gobbled up by bigger ones. Case in point, in 2023, Strava hiked up subscription prices in a messy rollout that left users angry and confused. You only need to look at the reaction to Garmin’s recent subscription launch to know the Strava-Runna news may not go over well with some users — a fact Martin and Maskell are well aware of.
“We’ve got quite an active Reddit community, and I know there’s probably quite a large overlap between them and the strong voices in the comment section,” says Maskell. “We try to be very transparent and open with them, and I genuinely believe this is an amazing thing for all users. I’m happy to tell everyone about it and sit on Reddit for the whole day to answer everyone’s questions.”
“I’d be lying to not say it’s a challenge to think about investing in growth during a period such as this, but it’s so clearly the right thing to do,” Martin says, referring to the current uncertain economic climate. “This is very much a growth and investment play. This isn’t an efficiency play.”
Amazon has announced a new version of its fully autonomous warehouse robot, Proteus, that will can interact using language instead of code. The expanded capabilities come as part of a growing pivot toward automation as the e-commerce giant replaces its human workers with robots.
Amazon says the AI-powered upgrade means its human employees can assign the robot tasks in the same way they’d communicate with colleagues. Previously, workers would need to use specialized software to direct the floor-level, tortoise-like systems, which are designed for heavy lifting and moving large carts throughout Amazon’s warehouses. “You tell it what needs to be done. It figures out the priority, the route, the timing,” says Scott Dresser, vice president of Amazon Robotics.
The next generation of Proteus will also work across a much larger area than the ones currently in use, which Amazon says only operate in dock areas. “The new system can work anywhere items need to be moved,” the company says. This includes transporting containers as they arrive on site, moving them between workstations, and assisting employees across fulfillment centers and delivery sites.
The new system is currently being piloted in Amazon’s labs, but the company says it has plans to deploy it in Europe during the first half of 2027.
Proteus is part of Amazon’s broader robotics roadmap. It says it has plans to expand its touch-sensitive robot, called Vulcan, and a collaborative tote-handling system first piloted in Barcelona, to more sites across Europe in the coming year.
Amazon says it is “creating new jobs alongside these technologies” and claims to have hired hundreds of thousands of employees globally since introducing robotics into its operations. The company insists its robots are designed to support workers and streamline operations, rather than replace hundreds of thousands of workers with robots.
Technology
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You hear the phrase “dark web monitoring,” and it can feel unsettling. If a company is scanning shady corners of the internet for your information, are they exposing you even more?
That question comes up often. In fact, Joyce from Florida wrote in with a concern many people share:
“When companies scan the dark web for your data, doesn’t that put you at risk? Your information is now out there. Please explain what that really means.” Joyce, Fanning Springs, Fla.
Joyce, great question. A lot of people assume these services are pushing your data somewhere new. That isn’t what is happening. The short answer is simple. No, dark web monitoring does not put your information at risk. Let’s walk through what is really going on.
WHAT REALLY HAPPENS ON THE DARK WEB, AND HOW TO STAY SAFE
Dark web monitoring checks breach dumps, hacker forums and leaked databases for personal information that may already be exposed. (Annette Riedl/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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What is dark web monitoring and how does it work
These services are not uploading your data anywhere. They are not spreading your information.
Instead, they are:
- Monitoring known data breach dumps, hacker forums and leaked databases
- Searching for matches to your information, like your email or phone number
- Alerting you if your data is already found there
Here is the key point to understand. Your information is already out there before they ever find it.
Does dark web monitoring expose your data? A simple way to think about it
The simple answer is no. Think of it like checking if your stolen credit card is being used. No one is putting your card out there.
A monitoring service watches for signs that your data is already in use, so you can shut it down quickly.
10 SIGNS YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS BEING SOLD ONLINE
How dark web monitoring works without exposing your information
Reputable services use secure methods to check for your data. They are designed to protect your information during the process.
These include:
- Hashed searches, where your data turns into unreadable code before checking
- Secure databases and APIs that compare data without exposing it
- Monitoring existing breach datasets instead of live personal accounts
They are not:
- Logging into your accounts
- Posting your information
- Interacting with criminals on your behalf
That distinction matters. They are observers, not participants.
Dark web monitoring can help users respond quickly by changing passwords, freezing credit or locking down affected accounts. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
When dark web monitoring could put your data at risk
While the concept itself is safe, the provider you choose matters. There can be a risk if:
- You use an unknown or untrusted service
- A company asks for sensitive documents without a clear reason
- The service itself has weak security and gets breached
That is why it is important to stick with well-known providers that have a strong track record.
BE AWARE OF EXTORTION SCAM EMAILS CLAIMING YOUR DATA IS STOLEN
Why dark web monitoring is actually helpful
Without monitoring, you might never know your data was exposed. That means:
- Your email and password could be circulating for months
- Someone could open accounts in your name
- Your information could be resold again and again
With monitoring, you get an early warning. That gives you time to change passwords, lock accounts and stop fraud before it spreads. In many cases, that early alert is the difference between a close call and a major financial hit.
Ways to stay safe from data breaches and identity theft
Even with monitoring, you should take simple steps to protect yourself.
1) Limit how much data is out there
Use a data removal service to reduce your exposure over time. A data removal service works to remove your personal data from data broker sites. That reduces how much of your information is circulating online in the first place. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
2) Stick with trusted services
Choose an identity theft protection service with strong security practices and clear privacy policies. They monitor your personal information and alert you quickly if it appears in breaches or suspicious activity. They also include identity theft protection tools in one place. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com
Data breach alerts can warn users when emails, phone numbers or passwords are found in leaked databases. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
3) Watch for alerts and act quickly
If you get a breach alert, change your password right away. Avoid reusing passwords across accounts. A password manager can help. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com
THE ONE THING SCAMMERS CHECK BEFORE TARGETING YOU ONLINE
4) Turn on two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of protection, even if your password is compromised.
5) Freeze your credit if needed
A credit freeze can stop criminals from opening new accounts in your name without your approval.
6) Monitor your financial accounts regularly
Check your bank and credit card statements often to catch suspicious activity early.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Dark web monitoring does not expose your data. It checks whether your data has already been exposed. Think of it as a radar system. It scans for danger so you can respond before things get worse. In a world where data breaches are common, that kind of early warning can make all the difference.
If your personal data was already out there right now, would you want to know or stay in the dark? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
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