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?
Common tech myths can often lead to misunderstandings. They can even hinder your ability to fully use various tools and devices.
Let’s debunk some of the most common tech myths that continue to circulate and explore the truth behind them.
Myth 1: Leaving your device plugged in overnight damages the battery
First is one of the most persistent tech myths. Leaving your device plugged in overnight will harm the battery life. But this myth is largely outdated.
Modern smartphones, laptops, and other devices have advanced battery management systems.
These systems prevent overcharging. Once your device reaches its maximum charge capacity, it automatically stops charging. So, feel free to charge your gadgets overnight without worrying about battery damage.
Myth 2: Incognito mode ensures complete anonymity
While incognito mode does provide some privacy benefits, they’re limited.
For example, it mainly prevents your device from saving the following items:
• Browsing history
• Cookies
• Temporary files
However, it does not hide your activities from your internet service provider (ISP). Nor from the websites you visit.
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.
It’s true that in 2022, 54% of all malware infections happened in Windows systems and just 6.2% happened in macOS. But as of January 2023, Windows had about 74% of the desktop OS share to Mac’s 15%. So, it turns out the systems aren’t that different when it comes to virus and malware risk.
The data shows the infection rate per user on Macs is 0.075. This is slightly higher than Windows, at 0.074. So, both systems have a pretty even risk of infection.
Myth 4: More megapixels mean better image quality
When it comes to smartphone cameras, savvy marketing sometimes leads to myths. Many people believe that more megapixels equal better image quality. This is a common misconception.
Other factors, in addition to megapixels, play a significant role, such as:
• The size of individual pixels
• Lens quality
• Image processing algorithms
• Low-light performance
A camera with a higher megapixel count may produce larger images. But it does not guarantee superior clarity, color accuracy, or dynamic range. When choosing a smart-phone or any camera, consider the complete camera system.