Technology ‘Fake News’ Hurts Everybody

As Mark Twain once said, “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes." Myths, Disinformation, and Fake News have a habit of lingering in people’s minds long after they have been debunked. It’s like a newspaper retraction, where the outrageous but incorrect ‘facts’ appear on the front page – above the fold, but when it’s found to be untrue, the tiny retraction is buried on page 14 somewhere near the bottom. So, what do most people believe? The fake news.

In this digital age, technology plays a significant and constantly expanding role in both our lives and our work. Along with the rapid advancements and innovations, several myths continue to persist.

Do Macs get viruses? Is it okay to leave your smartphone charging overnight? There are quite a few, but let’s concentrate on the most common myths.

Misunderstandings abound because those tech myths are still making the rounds. They can even hinder your ability to fully use various tools and devices. All hands on deck for a little debunking! We will explore the truth behind them.

Fake News:

1: Charging your devices overnight damages the battery

This fake news is largely outdated, but it is one of the most persistent tech myths. Modern smartphones, laptops, and other devices have advanced battery management systems that prevent overcharging.

Your device automatically stops charging when reaches its maximum charge capacity. This is true even if it remains connected to the power source. In fact, it is often recommended to keep your device plugged in overnight to ensure a full charge by morning.

Stop worrying about this and feel free to charge your gadgets overnight without worrying about battery damage. Plug it in, go to bed, and forget about it.

2: Incognito mode provides complete anonymity

Incognito is not some kind of Harry Potter invisibility cloak. The feeling that you are completely secure while surfing the internet using this mode is not entirely accurate. Incognito mode does provide some privacy benefits, but they’re limited.

It mainly prevents your device from saving the following items:

Browsing history

Cookies

Temporary files

It does NOT hide your activities from your internet service provider (ISP) or from the websites you visit. ISPs and websites can still track your IP address. They can also still watch your online behavior and collect data, which they typically do.

Use a virtual private network (VPN) or other specialized tools - they provide enhanced privacy protection if you really want complete anonymity online.

Goofing off is another reason people use incognito mode at work, to browse websites like Amazon or Facebook. It is true that no evidence of the sites you’ve visited can be found in your cookies, temporary files, or browsing history, BUT if someone on your IT services team monitors your computer to see what you’re doing in REAL TIME, they can see your incognito pages if they are open.

3: Macs don’t get viruses.

It is absolutely untrue that Mac computers are impervious to viruses and malware – and it never was. It was only ‘deemed’ true because of market share.  Microsoft has always been the big gorilla in the room, and their offerings, specifically Windows OS are for PCs. As of January 2023, Windows had about 74% of the desktop OS share. Mac’s OS had just 15%.

Cybercriminals are like sharks – they go where the feeding is most plentiful.

That’s why Macs have historically been less prone to such threats compared to Windows PCs, but this does not make them immune.

The reason why people tout this myth is because of a misreading of malware statistics. For example, in 2022, 54% of all malware infections happened in Windows systems. Just 6.2% of them happened in macOS.

These numbers indicate that 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 fairly even risk of infection. This is the case even though Macs have a significantly lower infection count – it’s a per capita calculation.

However, the interest of hackers in targeting Macs is growing as their popularity grows. Malicious software specifically designed for Macs does exist. Users should take proper precautions, no matter the operating system in use.

Protect yourself by keeping the operating system and applications up to date and install reliable antivirus software. Exercise caution when downloading files or clicking on suspicious links. Being aware of potential security risks and practicing safe browsing habits is crucial. This is true for Mac users, just as it is for any other platform.

Better yet, consult with your IT services provider, whether an in-house IT Support Department or an outsourced Managed IT Services firm, like ITFIRM.COM, and let them do the heavy lifting. That’s what an IT service provider gets paid for.

4: More MPs (MegaPixels) provide better image quality.

Nope, it’s only one factor. Savvy marketing creates a lot of this fake news by touting their best features as ‘the only thing to look for’ in a product like theirs. For example, when it comes to smartphone cameras, people have been led to believe that more megapixels equal better image quality. This is a common misconception.

The number of megapixels is an essential factor in determining the resolution of an image, but it is certainly not the sole indicator of image quality. Other factors play significant roles, 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, accuracy of colors, or dynamic range.

For best results, manufacturers often strike a balance between pixel count and other image processing technologies. When choosing a smartphone or any camera, consider the complete camera system.  Don't just focus on the megapixel count.

Know the difference between Fact and Fiction

We all rely on technology, so educate yourself on what’s rue and what’s FAKE NEWS.