Experts suggest checking security settings on smartphone apps

HOUSTON -- If you have multiple apps on your smartphone, many of them could have access to your social media accounts, your location, even personal information. But if you're not sure you want to share all of that, it might be time to do some spring cleaning with your tech.

Like many of us, Caryn Bailey keeps lots of photos in her phone. She often deletes unused apps to make room for pictures, but she didn't worry about any other implications, like her privacy -- until recently.

"Twitter sent me a message and told me that one of the apps that is connected to Twitter was actually hacked, and so somebody had compromised my password," Bailey said.

Bailey says it was a bit unnerving because it reminded her that some apps she downloads have permission to access her information.

"I should probably go through that list and start removing permissions," she said.

Experts say going through all your apps and taking a look at what you've given them permission to see, save and send to others, is one step you should take as part of a regular "spring cleaning" of your tech.

"You do have control over applications and the access that you're granting that application to your personal information, to your location, to your contacts, and take the time to understand that and then decide what you're most comfortable with," said Adi Kamdar with the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

In reviewing all your apps, Kamdar says you should delete anything you don't use.

"Go through your apps maybe once a month or so and figure out, do I still need this? The apps that you don't use anymore may still be collecting information about you whether you know it or not. Sometimes these apps run in the background," he said.

And while you're purging apps, it's always a smart practice to change your passwords as well. As for Bailey, she's all for cleaning up her phone and making space for more of what she actually uses.

"There's some apps that I downloaded like when I first joined Twitter. So, those apps I don't even hear about anymore and I probably should nix them," she said.

Experts also advise when you download new apps, pay attention to what permissions they're requesting and be sure to understand exactly what you're giving the application access to.