Myths exist everywhere even in Technology. Do you think Apple devices never get malware? Or does overcharging destroy your phone’s battery? There are thousands of such tech myths that exist, and people actually think they are true. In this article, we have mentioned 10 tech myths that most people believe and spread disinformation.
As with the new technology, several myths are also seen every time. Maybe you are also worried about something that actually isn’t true. Many updates and discoveries have cleared up such myths or tech disinformation.
It is important for us to keep a check on what we are following is true or not. Even if you know, maybe your friends or family isn’t aware of that. So, for them, this article might be helpful.
Now, let’s debunk the most common tech myths that the majority of people believe.
Table of Contents
5G towers affect health
People who are worried about cellular networks, Wi-Fi networks and even radio signals, think they have a negative effect on health. And as the 5G network was introduced, it also added up to the list.
Many conspiracy theories include, 5G towers will affect the vaccinated people badly and may result in covid-19 surge impulsively.
However, 5G and Covid-19 has no relation, and cannot be compared on any basis. And this was supposed to happen in January, but it didn’t. Although there is no scientifically proven connection between 5G and Covid-19, still people believed in this tech myth.
The world health organization also stated the towers use low-level electromagnetic fields that are negligible. They have a minor threat as compared to day to day driving risks and the risk of not carrying precautions during covid-19.
Also Read: Everything about 5G in India
iPhones and Mac are malware free
Hackers load malware or viruses and try to infect devices as much as possible. Therefore, they target Android and Windows users more often, as their users are in abundance.
Although the Apple devices are more secure and cannot be easily hacked. But, this doesn’t mean they do not at all get affected. While Apple has a restricted and strong security system, sometimes Apple also leaves some security holes.
iPhones are prone to viruses when they are jailbroken. Jailbroken is similar to unlocking it. Obtaining some root privileges can bypass the restrictions of security in an iPhone. But, keeping your device up to date and installing apps and other things only from the App store is more secure.
Windows and Android users often install vetted software or apps, which results in malware entering their device. Do you want to keep your iPhone secure? Read Apple privacy tips, they might help you in keeping your iPhone secure.
Batteries develop a ‘memory’
In previous devices, there used to be a nickel-cadmium battery. And they were only charged after passing a certain threshold. Many people say it is better to charge a battery after completely discharging it. This thought came when these NiCad batteries were used. It is like a memory reset.
Whereas now devices are equipped with lithium-ion batteries, and they aren’t the same as NiCad batteries. Lithium-ion batteries have a short life. Therefore, in the same amount of charging time, new phones can charge fully while old ones do not.
For the long run, you should stick to the slow and usual overnight charging. Fast-charging also degrade batteries in less time. Also, if a device is charged frequently, then are more chances of battery degradation.
Charge phone from zero percent
One of the most common tech myths is, to charge the phone after a complete discharge. However, using a lithium-ion battery and every time putting it on charge at 0% is actually harmful. This will make your battery diminish even faster. But, many people still believe to charge a battery only from 0%.
There is another capacity issue. The batteries we have in our smartphones are made of materials that degrade after a time. Therefore only, new phones’ batteries last longer, whereas older ones do not. Because their battery capacity goes down with time.
The best strategy to get a long battery life is to keep the charging between 30% to 80%. Never let it be below 20% and charge it only till 80%.
Overcharging
Have you listened to someone saying, don’t charge smartphones overnight, it will overload the battery? or it will explode due to overload?
While this myth is also very common among people. But, we need to understand, that “smartphones” are smarter than we think. In modern smartphones, Lithium-ion batteries are being used, and these batteries stop charging after 100% automatically. Phone catching fire, battery explosion happens because of faulty batteries.
But, your smartphone needs a normal temperature. The excess heating up of phones is harmful. Like, some people, kept phones under their pillow, and that’s is risky. It might heat up and can burn itself and will harm you as well. On the other hand, excess heat damages the battery too.
Camera quality depend on Megapixels
Have you ever heard someone saying, “my camera has more megapixels and therefore it is better than yours”?
The “more megapixels means a better picture”, such tech myths related to smartphone cameras are very common among people. But, the quality of the camera depends upon its sensor. You can find some smartphones with fewer megapixels that gives clear images. For instance, even the iPhone 5s’ 8MP camera, gives a far more clear image than any other phone’s 16-megapixels or 32-megapixels camera.
Do not only check megapixels while purchasing a phone. Also, check its sensor quality, lenses quality, its ability to click pictures in low light conditions, etc. And along with them getting more megapixels is quite impressive and beneficial.
Apple slow downs it old devices
Many people believe that as soon as a new phone arrives, the older one becomes less responsive. And you’ll end up purchasing a new phone.
However, Apple has throttle CPUs to check the ageing of the iPhone’s battery in older iPhones. It wasn’t to increase the sales but to prevent a system crash. Phones with a weak battery shut down when a user overload them. Later Apple added another feature in its phones to turn this off and let your phone crash when overloaded.
Whereas, the slow working of the device might be a result of installed apps and updates. Like, it is the simplest thing to understand, how the latest software works in the older phones fluently? The design and the chipset inside is different. And this probably slowdowns phones after a software update.
Incognito mode is completely private
Do you feel safe, while browsing using incognito mode? But, actually incognito mode is also not completely safe for browsing and doesn’t offer complete privacy.
This mode only erases your data after closing it. But still, at every site you visit, the data is shared with your ISP. Your ISP knows where you are going, what you are doing or which site you are visiting on the browser. It will not protect you from any malware or virus. Even, the websites you are visiting can also see your physical location. Are you worried about getting spied? then check this out–Protect yourself from getting spied (12 easy ways).
With this, we conclude that Incognito or private mode aren’t completely private. They are just to keep your personal and professional life separated. You can use them if you are okay with sharing limited data with the websites.
But, if not, then you can install any other privacy centred browser. They take more time to load data but are way safer than the rest.
Nothing to be hacked
Many people believe, hackers only hack privileged companies or organisations to steal their data. But, cybercrime isn’t restricted to them only. We all have some kind of private data, which need to be secured. And if not, then hackers might steal data and can misuse it in the worst way.
Might have heard about PPI, Private Personal Information, if stolen, will result in identity theft.
If you use any government website, your Social Security number is saved there and it can be used as well. Also, when you shop online, your credit card details are also saved somewhere on the site. And due to any data break, it might go into the hands of people that can misuse them. Indeed you don’t require any tight security but it is true, by stealing your data, bad actors can do beyond your thinking. They can use your data and can sell it as well to many people as possible. What if your card details are leaked? Know more about cybersecurity in detail–Cybersecurity: All you need to know.
One thing you can do in order to protect yourself from getting spied on is by having different passwords. However, it is a heavy task to remember so many passwords but is necessary for security. You can save your password in any reliable password manager. Check the list of the best password managers.
But, if your master password is accessed then it will end up telling all the other passwords as well.
This might interest you: Best free password managers.
10. Cloud is in the sky
Someone ever told you, stormy weather interfere in accessing the data stored in the cloud?
The word ‘Cloud’ has been taken so literally. Some people actually think that cloud computing is in the sky. They believe that somehow data is stored in the sky and that’s why it is called cloud computing. Thus, heavy rainfall, stormy weather or the unclear sky will not let you access your data on cloud easily. This is actually one of the most common tech myths.
Also Read: What is cloud gaming?
While the word ‘cloud’ is just used as a metaphor for the internet. Because of the internet’s amorphous nature, previously a cloud was used to represent it in the flowcharts.
Precisely, cloud computing is the delivery of computing services over the internet. Such as servers, databases, networks, software, etc. Gmail, Netflix, OneDrive, Amazon AWS are all different kinds of Cloud Computing services. Your data on the cloud and cloud computing services can be accessed, whether there are clear skies or rainy days.
THANKYOU FOR READING We hope this article was helpful. If it was, then let us know in the comments below. Also, here are a few recommendations for you. Cybersecurity facing challenges in 2022