From a palm tree-laden Insta-snap to broadcasting your beach beverages on Facebook, we’re all guilty of the occasional ‘holiday brag’ on social media.

Nevertheless holidaymakers are being warned to think twice before pressing ‘post’, to avoid jeopardizing their home security and invalidating their insurance.

Earlier this year, Kim Kardashian West was attacked by thieves after posting both pictures of her jewels and her location in Paris, unintentionally revealing this information to the burglars.

Posting that you are on holiday makes it clear that your home is empty, while any previous bragging about expensive purchases advertises what might be in the house. As well as increasing the risk of a burglary, any claims you make on your home insurance after a break-in could be rejected because you didn’t take ‘reasonable care’ to keep your property safe.

Even if your snorkeling selfies are more likely to be seen by your Granny than millions of followers, publically sharing information such as your location online could pose a serious security risk – and could even see your insurer refusing to pay out.

Some insurers will check your social media activity before paying out, and those who check-in their location on Facebook could be denied a payout.

Amanda Bathory, insurance editor at Gocompare.com, says: “Make sure you tighten your security online by setting your privacy to the highest setting – if you really need to post that cheeky beach selfie, make sure only a circle of people you trust can see it.”

It can be difficult to see past the terrible events that are happening in our own country, and all too easy to forget that at any one time, the risk of violence, unrest, kidnap and piracy are real, and the threat levels high, across the globe.

The fact remains that despite a series of recent attacks which lead to a temporary heightened terror threat level of “severe”, the UK, along with Canada, Japan, Botswana, most of Europe, and perhaps surprisingly, the Falkland Islands and South Korea pose “insignificant” threats to natives and visitors.

For the following countries, the outlook is very different. In light of the NYA’s Global Threat Map, we look at the countries which present real dangers to those living and travelling to the regions:

1. Venezuala

Threats: Political Instability, Violent Crimes, Kidnapping

2. Nigeria

Threats: Civil Conflict, Kidnap and Ransom, Political Corruption

3. Somalia

Threats: Terrorism, Kidnap

4. South Sudan

Threats: Civil War, Political Instability and Corruption, Theft, Kidnap and Ransom

5. Yemen

Threats: Kidnap, Militant Attacks

6. Pakistan

Threats: Terrorism, Political Instability, Violent Crime, Kidnap and Ransom, Sectarian Violence

7. Iraq

Threats: Sectarian Conflict, Corruption, Terrorism, Kidnap and Ransom

8. Syria

Threats: Militant Attacks, Kidnapping, Terrorism, Humanitarian Crisis, Lack Of Law Enforcement

9. Turkey

Threats: Political Instability, Civil Unrest, Terrorism

10. Libya

Threats: Terrorism, Militancy, Political Instability and Ineffective Security

Instances of kidnapping are highest in Asia at 44%, while piracy is more common in West Africa, which accounts for 41% of attacks, criminal boarding, suspicious approach and other instances of piracy reported across the globe.

In 2015 the Home Office revised the 2000 UK Terrorism Act to make it illegal for insurance companies to reimburse ransoms paid to known terrorist organisations.

However, this has had little impact on the scope of kidnap and ransom insurance policies, as UK insurers were already prohibited from providing funds for terrorist.

What kidnap and ransom does provide, is additional support for those operating in risky regions where piracy is rife, and in those circumstances, this cover can be essential.

Rather than reimbursing a ransom, the policy provides expertise in the form of negotiators and local support; it is the expenses of this support and payments for injury and losses sustained which is reimbursed.