jesseriley wrote:
GPS is easier to fake, since it simply tells less.
Proctor's Strava data showed his watch model (Garmin fenix 5X). Anything uploaded manually by a file on Strava will say "GPX" instead of the watch model. That shows that his data went directly from his watch to the Garmin uploading app on either a phone or a computer, then was picked up by Strava from the Garmin website due to app permissions. It would be very difficult to fake the data to have Strava show the watch name. They'd have to hire a software engineer/hacker to hack into a watch to re-upload faked data to a watch. Extremely unlikely to do just that, much less fake the speed and cadence along a route. They'd have to hire someone who is not only a hacker, but also understands running very well so the fake data would past the smell test. They'd basically have to hire someone like the marathon investigation guy in addition to a software hacker working in tandem. It's unlikely they even have the awareness to fake the data in that way.
Plus there is no reason to fake data in such a way, because if the Strava just said "GPX" as the source, that could be explained legitimately in many ways.