The Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC) tested watches from brands including Gator and GPS for Kids.

It said it discovered that attackers could track, eavesdrop or even communicate with the wearers.

The manufacturers involved insist the problems have either already been resolved or are being addressed.

UK retailer John Lewis has withdrawn one of the named smartwatch models from sale in response.

The smartwatches tested essentially serve as basic smartphones, allowing parents to communicate with their children as well as track their location.

Some include an SOS feature that allows the child to instantly call their parents.

They typically sell for about £100.

The NCC said it was concerned that Gator and GPS for Kids’ watches transmitted and stored data without encryption.

It said that meant strangers, using basic hacking techniques, could track children as they moved, or make a child appear to be in a completely different location.

Consumer rights watchdog Which? criticised the “shoddy” watches and said parents “would be shocked” if they knew the risks.

Spokeswoman Alex Neill said: “Safety and security should be the absolute priority. If that can’t be guaranteed, then the products should not be sold.”

John Lewis stocks a version of the Gator watch, although it is not clear whether it suffers from the same security flaws as the watches tested.

The firm said it was withdrawing the product from sale “as a precautionary measure” while awaiting “further advice and reassurance from the supplier”.

GPS for Kids said it had resolved the security flaws for new watches and that existing customers were being offered an upgrade.

The UK distributor of the Gator watch said it had moved its data to a new encrypted server and was developing a new, more secure app for customers.

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Source: BBC

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The Turkey-based player landed badly in the 92nd minute of the pre-tournament friendly with the Netherlands on Saturday night.

Doctors say a broken fibula cannot heal in time for Akaminko to take part in the tournament and Kwesi Appiah feels sad for the defender.

Citi Sports understands that the former Heart of Lions man was a shoo-in for Brazil, but for the injury.

“It is unfortunate that Jerry has got to face this,” Appiah told the Ghana FA’s official website after the 1-0 defeat to the Dutch.

“Looking at the training he has done with the team we had lots of hope for the World Cup.”

“All we have to do, apart from the support we will offer him is to pray for him to come back stronger.”

The final squad named, predictably, did not have Akaminko’s name in it after he was dropped. Others who did not make the 23 heading to Brazil were Jeffery Schlupp and David Accam.

By Gary Al-Smith/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @garyalsmith

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The pre-World Cup friendly on Saturday night was the second time the Dutch had beaten the Black Stars under these circumstances, having won 4-1 just before South Africa 2010.

“We are too careless with the ball at times,” the Manchester United-bound coach told Dutch media on Saturday.

Robin van Persie scored the only goal of the match in the fifth minute at De Kuip Arena in Rotterdam.

“In the first half, there were many opportunities for us to create opportunities, but we have not taken advantage of them. We have created and scored a brilliant goal, but it should have been 3-0. We had another two fantastic attacks.”

Ghana have left for the USA to continue preps while the Netherlands meet Wales in Amsterdam on Wednesday.

by: Gary Al-Smith/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @garyalsmith

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