Ever wondered what is common between the Lochness monster, Yeti and radiation from PC monitor causing cancer? Well, they all are myths! Like these there are several other notions about technology and its products that many of us nurture. Like some people still believe (most till some time back) that switching off the power without shutting down your PC can cause harm to it. Similarly, many believe that megapixel count is the ultimate factor to consider while buying a digital camera. However, in reality these beliefs are nothing but myths with no grounding that many people harbour. Other than these there are many such myths that haunt the tech world. Here's over to some of the most common technology myths.
1. E-mail requires password, so it is safe
Using a strong password for your email does not mean that it is hack-proof. Despite using a strong password, your account can be compromised.
According to a report in PC world, the webpage into which users put their username and password is SSL encrypted. This means that it enables encryption of sensitive information. However, the same does not apply when a user sends the e-mail text.
While sending data, a hacker in the user's network can ‘read’ the text that is ‘traveling’ between your PC and the e-mail server.
==========================================
2. No magnets near my PC
This would have been true in the case of a floppy drive, however, hard drives and laptops are immune to magnetic radiation as they are free from magnetic composition.
And like this, thumb drives, memory cards and CDs too are, so don't get hyper and go crazy with those fridge magnets.
Most of the storage devices, like SD cards are immune to magnetic fields.
==========================================
3. In camera only megapixels matter
If you think that it is only the number of megapixels that ensure picture quality in a digital camera, its time to get your fundas right.
Features like image sensor size and type, lenses and image stabilisation are as important, if not more, as the megapixel count in a digital camera.
The fact is cramming more megapixels into a smaller image sensor can even lead to reduced picture quality. For high-quality prints sized 8”x 10” or more, you need a camera with at least 3 megapixel resolution.
==========================================
4. Anti-virus is fool-proof
An anti-virus is a complete must for any PC. However, having an anti-virus does not mean that your PC is now completely secure from any kind of virus, malware or hacker attack.
It is not critical to just have an anti-virus solution, but also to keep it continuously updated. Also, no single anti-virus programme can completely safeguard you against virus, trojan, malware and spyware attacks. There may be chances that the anti-virus programme loaded in your PC is not effective against spyware or other kinds of malware not classified as viruses. Also, in case of a bigger attack, a security vendor may take long time to issue a security update.
Even if you have an anti-virus installed in your PC, it is important to follow basic security guidelines like not opening a mail from an unknown user or click on an unidentified link.
==========================================
5. PC monitor radiation causes cancer
No! It won't. Radiation from your cell phone might give you a brain tumour, but a monitor is harmless.
The radiation from your monitor is too weak and also at a different frequency, so rest assure you are totally safe.
In fact, according to several studies the amount of ultra violet radiation produced by a computer monitor is only a small fraction of that produced by florescent lighting.
==========================================
6. Cookies track every move
Cookies do track your activities on a website. But they are simple things which will make sure that your next visit to the site is simple and hassle free.
Cookies are basically small text files that help the browser remember specific information like your ID and password, preferences, shopping cart information etc. Plus, they are usually deleted when you shut down your browser.
To delete cookies in IE, go to Tools, click Internet Options, click the Privacy tab, and click Advanced to override automatic cookie handling.
==========================================
7. ‘Stop’ a USB device before unplugging
This applies only in a few cases. This is said to ensure that the USB device is not unplugged while data is being read from or written to it.
Doing so would corrupt the file being transferred or maybe damage the USB drive. However, when the USB is in an idle mode it can be unplugged without going through the entire process of 'Safely Remove hardware’.
For devices like keyboard, mouse, printers and scanners, you can just unplug them when not in use.
==========================================
8. Wireless Networks are unsafe
WiFi has traditionally been an ‘open’ system. There have also been several incidents where users wifi accounts have been hacked for terror and other criminal activities.
However, this no where that Wireless Networks are unsafe and can be hacked easily, of course until a user leaves his doors open.
Using a strong encryption for your wifi account can keep hackers away. All wireless devices these days support the common encryption protocols like WPA, WPA2 and WEP. Of these, WPA2 is the most secure and enable it to make your wireless network safe.
==========================================
9. Never switch off before Shut Down
Many believe that turning power off without shutting down PC physically damages its hard drive. However, this is an age-old myth and has no grounding.
However, users do lose their data if they were working and have not saved before switching off the power.
Also, many users believe that one should shut down PC every couple of hour so that it can rest. The thought may be nice, but shutting down your PC every few hours may actually be harmful to your PC.
Components in the PC are most stressed when they have to either boot or shut down. Doing that every few hours will keep it under constant stress. However, this doesn't mean you must keep your computer on forever. Operating systems do need a shut down once in a while, because even the best operating systems crash if not given a rest.
==========================================
10. CD/DVD Media last forever
If you are among those who think that your CD/DVD Media has a shelf life of over 100 years, time to get the notion corrected. Yes your CD/DVD media can last this long, but that can be true only under certain ideal conditions.
CDs and DVDs if stored completely away from dust and sunlight can have this long lifeline. Most CDs if not used say around five years, may not work. So, it is important to take back up of your CDs regularly, unless you are prepared to let go off your data.
==========================================
11. Clearing recycle bin deletes data forever
Well many may relax when they delete their trash files.
However, this is no reason to cheer. In fact, Windows just marks the area of the disk occupied by such files as empty, but does not delete the data.
There are many file recovery software available such as TOKIWA DataRecovery that enables you to undelete files, even if they have been removed from the recycle bin. Such programmes can track the deleted files in the hard disk.
Recovery of the deleted files is possible as long as the disk area is not overwritten by any new disk.
Source: TOI