precautions while using whatsapp

Do not share any personal information on the profile such as email address, mobile phone number, home or school address. When you start chatting with someone you met online, stick to general topics and refrain from talking too much about yourself.

Do not share your pics in chat rooms as they can be misused. Identity theft is a grave issue and can have dangerous repercussions.

Do not leave public chat rooms and encourage private conversations unless you are very sure about the identity of the person you are chatting with. Chatting in public ensures someone or the other would alert you in case you are being harassed. Private chats can often be used by online bullies to harass you.

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the word. It lets you send messages without having to pay for sms services although the person you are sending to also has to be using the app. Its an easy way to stay in touch with the newsroom and colleagues while in the field, especially as you can exchange images, video and audio.

Currently, WhatsApp claims messages are encrypted but because the company wont say what method they use, its difficult to know how secure the service is. There are reports that WhatsApp messages sent over wifi and other public channels can be decrypted. There are apps out there which try to make WhatsApp more secure.

An alternative approach, and a wise precaution even if you do remove your SIM, is to disable overseas roaming before you leave the country. The method for doing this varies; typically youll need to either contact your provider by phone or change settings in your online account. Dont leave this until just before you leave, as the setting may not always be applied instantly.

In the smartphone era, its worth remembering that not being accessible via a single phone number is not the restriction you might think. With Wi Fi, you can still access email, Twitter, Facebook, and free messaging apps like Skype, FaceTime, WhatsApp and Viber. That gives you plenty of ways to talk to others, and for others to get in touch with you in emergencies.

During the day, free Wi Fi from cafes and other locations is your best friend. Check our detailed guide to finding free Wi Fi for specific suggestions.

An obvious point, but one many people forget update your voicemail message to explain to people that youre travelling and not regularly checking messages. That will save on deleting lots of out of date messages when you return. If youre paranoid about saying youre away, simply ask people to send you an email.

Most Australian telcos offer discount bundles for travel, meaning that data will only cost a princes ransom rather than a kings ransom. If you know youll need data options, these can be worth checking out. Telstra cut the price on its packs earlier this year, but theyre still ruinously expensive. Optus has some good deals in Asia.