7 seemingly innocent things you do on your phone that definitely aren't safe.

September 8, 2015

Image via iStock.

Nowadays, you can pretty much do anything on your phone. From updating your friends on your day and sorting out your finances, to ordering pizza or doing a comprehensive background on a date, the power is all in the palm of your hand.

Yet much of what we do daily on our phones without even thinking could actually be putting our personal information at risk. Here are seven things to be aware of…

1. Beware the lure of free wifi.

The saying “there’s no such thing as a free lunch” is especially true when it comes to free wifi. Checking your emails or bank account might seem innocent enough, but doing this while accessing free (and often unsecure) wifi is never a good idea.

It’s incredibly easy for people to hack into these connections, meaning your private information could fall into the wrong hands. While it’s certainly convenient, avoid sharing or logging into anything that involves sensitive information using free wifi, no matter where you are.

2. Sharing holiday snaps online.

It’s arguably one of the best parts of going on holiday – sharing a beach snap or selfie on Facebook or Instagram to let everyone know exactly how much fun you’re having. While it’s a handy way to update friends and family of your travels, it’s can also be a risky move.

Think twice before uploading all your holiday snaps live to social media. Image via Instagram (@taylorswift)

By checking in at specific locations, you're letting people know exactly where you are, and where you're not. According to Adweek, 75 per cent of burglars are reportedly using social media to choose their victims, using the wealth of information most of us willingly post about where we are and what we do to figure out when we're not home.

3. Using the same profile picture across all social media sites.

When you find a picture of yourself that you like, it's common to use it across all your social media profiles. But according to Violet Blue, cybercrime investigative reporter and author of The Smart Girl's Guide to Privacy, it's one of the worst things you can do.

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"The [profile] photo is the biggest mistake women make. Different pictures make it more difficult for cybercriminals to put together a digital portrait of you," she told Elle Magazine.

4. Sharing photos of your children with real names.

Whether you share photos of your child or not is completely up to you but if you choose to do so, avoid posting their real name alongside it. Using a hashtag or nickname instead goes a long way in helping to protect their identity.

We also know how hard our digital footprint can be to clear, so you'll also save them the trouble (and embarrassment) of having hundreds of their baby photos online for everyone to see when they're older. (Post continues after gallery.)

Apps busy people will love.

Hot5 FitnessThis app has step-by-step workouts which are led by experts in the industry. You can choose specific workouts, from yoga to ab workouts, and they vary in difficulty.There are fiveto 45 minute workouts to choose from, and it is really user friendly.

Period trackerYou press a button at the start of your period every month and then Period Tracker logs your dates and calculates the average of your past three months' menstrual cycles to predict the start date of your next period. Busy people don't have time for surprises, so this app comes in handy.

PodcastsPodcasts are great because they allow you to be entertained/learn/engage when you are on the the move. One that The Glow team recommend is the Mamamia Outloud Podcast. Guaranteed laughs. (No, we're not biased...)

PocketbookPocketbook makes budgeting really easy. You can synchronise the app with your bank so you don't need to manually enter numbers, making it really easy to track your expenses. It can send you alerts when your bills are late or when bank fees are charged. And a summary to keep your savings on track. You can see where your money is going and manage it.

PocketPocket helps me to keep all the articles I come across and want to read. You can save everything from articles to recipes and videos, and it keep them all in once place. The device can connect to multiple devices, so you can use it on your phone and computer, and it also works offline.

WoolworthsYou can do your shopping while on public transport with this clever app. You just choose what you need and they will deliver it to your door. It will also organise your shopping lists into the order they are in theaisle order for your local store, it has recipes and get tips about what to fresh produce to buy at what time of the year.

EvernoteEvernote is another incredible organisational app. It helps you write notes, checklists and do research, and can also save articles documents and photos form the web. You can also attach files and share them with others. You can turn business cards into contacts and also plan travel on the app.

5. Posting your mobile number.

Whether it's in a conversational comment to a friend or on a "I've lost my phone, please give me your numbers" post, don't do it. You're essentially making it easy for people (such as friends of friends and marketers who you might not want to have your number) to access you and your details. If you have to share, stick to direct messaging.

6. Sharing passwords.

Most of us probably know the banking or Facebook log ins of our loved ones and vice versa but sharing passwords is really not a good idea. If anything goes wrong, they have access to some of your most personal information, and can post or lock you out of whatever they please. We're not saying you should be suspicious of your loved ones, but if you're sending them password information via social media or email, it could be easier for it to fall into the wrong hands.

The same goes for using the same password for all your different accounts, it makes it incredibly easy to hack. Try using different passwords and try change them all annually anyway.

social media addiction — Avoid sharing your passwords. Image via iStock.

7. Using dodgy wifi

We've all been there - you desperately need to check Facebook or your emails but are over your data limit. You're scanning for a wifi connection and suddenly a free one pops up "Fr33WiFi". Do not connect unless you know 100 per cent that it's a trusted source. While it's unlikely, criminals have been known to set up hotspots in busy areas in order to steal information. Free wifi isn't worth putting your safety at risk.

Do you have any more safety tips to share?

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