Busting Common Tech Myths
Whenever complex, difficult to learn, high jargon forms of technology get popular, myths and folklore go right along with it. Look at sailing, after all. A “sheet” isn’t actually a sheet, and people who know about halyards slightly scare us. How many seafaring myths convince us to stay on dry land? Our point exactly.
Digital technology is no different. We don’t always completely understand it, it’s expensive, and we don’t want to mess it up. Very few people could accurately explain how a smartphone works, but absolutely everyone can explain at top volume how bad breaking one is.
So, is it okay to leave your smartphone charging overnight? Do Macs get viruses? And what about those 5G towers? What’s going on with those? Is there some reason they hide as palm trees?
Common tech myths often lead to misunderstandings. Falling prey to folklore hinders your ability to fully use various tools and devices. In this blog post, we debunk some of the most common tech myths that continue to circulate. We’ll also explore the truth behind them.
Myth 1: Keeping your device plugged in overnight damages the battery.
This first represents one of the most persistent tech myths. “If your device stays plugged in overnight, it’ll drop the battery life!” But this myth was once true, but people invented fixes for it since then.
Modern smartphones, laptops, and other devices come with advanced battery management systems. These systems prevent overcharging via software.
Once your device reaches its maximum charge capacity, it automatically stops charging whether or not it remains connected to the power source. In fact, manufacturers now recommend to keep your device plugged in overnight to ensure a full charge by morning.
So, feel free to charge your gadgets overnight without worrying about shortening your battery’s life.
Myth 2: Incognito mode ensures complete anonymity.
Many people believe that using incognito mode in web browsers guarantees complete anonymity. They feel completely secure while surfing the internet using this mode. Meanwhile, there’s no such thing as complete anonymity on the Internet. It absolutely, positively does not exist. While incognito mode does provide some limited privacy benefits, believing in anonymity on the Internet anymore is a serious mistake.
For example, it mainly prevents your device from saving the following items:
- Browsing history
- Cookies
- Temporary files
Incognito mode does not hide your activities from your internet service provider (ISP). It doesn’t hide you from the websites you visit. ISPs and websites can still track your IP address with ease. They can also still watch your online behavior and collect data on an ongoing basis.
Do you truly want to remain anonymous online? Then consider using a virtual private network (VPN). Or two. Make sure to do the research to find good ones. Investigate other specialized tools that provide enhanced privacy protection. Point is, to protect one’s privacy on the Internet takes some serious effort.
Myth 3: Macs are immune to viruses.
Another prevalent myth is that Mac computers are impervious to viruses and malware. It is true that Macs have historically been less prone to such threats compared to Windows PCs. This does not make them immune. People are perfectly capable of writing viruses to attach macOS, they simply do so less often.
Some people that tout this myth point to malware statistics. For example, in 2022, 54% of all malware infections happened in Windows systems while just 6.2% of them happened in macOS.
But you also need to factor in operating system (OS) market share. As of January 2023, Windows had about 74% of the desktop OS share. Mac’s OS had just 15%.
When you consider the rate of infection per customer, it turns out the systems aren’t that different when it comes to virus and malware risk. The infection rate per user on Macs is 0.075. This is slightly higher than on Windows, at 0.074. So, both systems have a pretty even risk of infection. This is the case even though Macs have a significantly lower infection count.
As the popularity of Macs has grown, so has the interest of hackers in targeting these devices. Malicious software specifically designed for Macs does exist and will grow as Macs become more popular. Users should take proper precautions, no matter the operating system in use. Criminals target people. If more people use Macs, criminals find it more worth their effort to create viruses for Macs.
Install reliable antivirus software and keep the operating system and applications up to date. Exercise caution when downloading files or clicking on suspicious links. Staying aware of potential security risks and practicing safe browsing habits remains crucial. This as true for Mac users as for Windows or any other operating system.
Myth 4: More megapixels mean better image quality.
When it comes to smartphone cameras, savvy marketing sometimes leads to myths popping up. Many people believe that more megapixels automatically equals better image quality. This is a common misconception.
Megapixels represent only one essential factor in determining the resolution of an image, but they are not the sole indicator of image quality. Other factors play a significant role. Such as:
- The size of individual pixels (pixels per inch or centimeter)
- Lens quality
- Image processing algorithms
- Low-light performance
A camera with a higher megapixel count can produce larger images, but it does not guarantee superior clarity, color accuracy, or dynamic range.
Manufacturers often try to strike a balance between pixel count and other image processing technologies. They balance these factors trying to achieve optimal results. When choosing a smartphone or any camera, consider the complete camera system instead of only focusing on the megapixel count.
Myth 5: 5G Towers are Dangerous and Being Hidden
Well. . .that depends. 5G networks don’t cause cancer. Cancer is caused by ionizing radiation, aka radiation that adds an ion to molecules that’s not supposed to be there. All cellphone networks work through non-iodizing radiation. Non-iodizing radiation does not cause cancer.
In addition, as far as we can tell, 5G cellular radiation shouldn’t interfere with the world more than 4G already does, based on the wavelength measurements and current acceptable guidelines.
That being said, there are things we don’t know about 5G, which the worldwide digital tech industry will have to study carefully as we go along. Will they interfere with weather forecasting? Good question. Will they impact migratory birds? Also a good question.
Oh, and 5G towers being hidden? Nah, if we can find them as easily as we do, they’re just being made as unobtrusive as possible. However, “hidden” is a step too far when it’s easy to pick them out from the highway as we drive by.
Separate Fact from Fiction
In a world where technology is an integral part of our lives, you must separate fact from fiction. Debunking common tech myths can empower you to make informed decisions. It can also maximize the potential of your digital experiences. An understanding of the truth behind these myths helps you use technology more effectively. It can also help you better protect your privacy.
Why Is This Published By A Business Phone Company?
Here at NoContractVoIP, we believe that your success creates our success. And, since we specialize in business communication, we work to help you communicate better while staying safe. We create the cutting edge communication systems that modern companies need. And we geek out on tech stuff, so we study it for you.
To talk to a business phone system specialist and never worry about any of this again, call 866-550-0005 or contact us today.
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