Common Tech Myths Debunked

Truth: Apple computers are susceptible to malware just like Windows PCs. Apple once bragged they were not as susceptible until a Trojan infected thousands of computers in 2012. To learn more about how to protect against malware see Cyber Security: The Onion Approach

Truth: Much like the myth of leaving your phone plugged in to charge for extended periods of time, this is also false. In fact, it could even be beneficial to plug your phone into the charger prior to the battery being completely dead. Batteries have a limited number of charge cycles before losing their ability to hold a charge. By charging the battery prior to it being completely dead, you save a charge cycle.

Truth: Many have heard this myth. Some have even seen Stephen King’s film “Cell” referring to an evil electronic signal emitted through cell phones. The truth is there is no evidence or research that supports the idea that the radio frequency emitted through cell phones have any effect on the brain or it’s tissue and to date is not linked to causing any kind of cancer.

Truth: It’s true, more bars help your service, but, it doesn’t always mean great reception. The number of bars indicate how close you are to the nearest cell tower. Other factors affect internet speed on your phone including how many people are currently using the network.

If you found this entertaining, take a look at a couple other debunked myths in 5 tech myths that won’t go away.

I am sure that you have more hands on experience than I do since my primary source of income was working on a fire department for 25 years. But I have been the go-to person for many friends and coworkers for several decades when it comes to computer issues.

I read through a few of your recent posts and we do seem to have a great deal in common. For a number of reasons I prefer Windows 7 over 10 also, but as I acquire newer hardware it is becoming a move that seems more and more inevitable.

I bought a new Windows 10 17” touchscreen laptop about a month ago for 3d modeling, video and photo editing. But I am still typing you on my old shoe.

> ... I have been the go-to person for many friends and coworkers for several decades when it comes to computer issues.

I know that feeling, too! As a computer literate engineer, typically in small companies lacking an actual distinct "IT Department", I became the defacto System Admin (in addition to my engineering duties). And of course family and friends... "What computer should I buy?" "Depends -- what are you going to use it for?" "I don't know." "Then wait until you figure that out first..." *sigh*

> ...I prefer Windows 7 over 10 also, but as I acquire newer hardware it is becoming a move that seems more and more inevitable.

Yep. Microsoft is doing everything they can think of to get everybody onto Win10. They will get obnoxious about it before the push is over, you can bet on that.

> I bought a new Windows 10 17” touchscreen laptop about a month ago for 3d modeling, video and photo editing.

That sounds great!

> But I am still typing you on my old shoe.

Hmmm, that may explain things... :-)

Have a great evening... I'm off to the sack now. FRegards!

I know that feeling, too! As a computer literate engineer, typically in small companies lacking an actual distinct “IT Department”,

I worked for a “big city” fire department. But I started working there before there were fire department computers in the stations or a “fire department IT Department”. The city of course had computers and an IT Department, but if you have ever worked for a fire or police department they tend to view outsiders with a certain amount of suspicion. So it became known early in my career that I and one another person on the department had education, training, and was knowledgeable about computers and other electronic devices.

So I was frequently asked for assistance by my superiors and coworkers for both department and non-department work from the beginning. It had both perks and disadvantages. I often felt like George McFly, being used by various chiefs to do their “homework”. And even when we did start getting our own “IT Staff”, they were helpful, but often didn’t understand the eccentricities of a system that the department purchased at a “bargain price” from a larger city. So they had their work cut out for them.

When I think about the evolution that my fire department went through with our network, our computers, our radio and cell phone equipment... it created so many somewhat comical situations. But others that were not so comical. I was “drafted” into our “communications” department when I received my first promotion which was a royal PIA.

The head of the department had no technical skills, knowledge, or aptitude. The Computer Aided Dispatch system that he was largely responsible for purchasing was awful. To be an effective dispatcher you had to memorize numerous computer commands and procedures. At the end of taking down a 911 call from a frantic person and entering all of the location information, the computer would sometimes give you a list of up to a dozen possible addresses to choose from almost all of which looked nearly identical to the one you had already entered. For certain addresses this resulted in department resources being sent to the wrong location on more than one occasion. This happened more frequently at night when the dispatcher had been on duty for many hours. (At that time even our dispatchers worked a 24 hour shift frequently with almost no opportunities for breaks.)

Most of the people in charge who made the decisions about which equipment and software to purchase had almost no technical knowledge and in many cases almost no aptitude to base their decisions on. These were typically people with “strong” personalities who would not ask for any help until after their unwise purchasing decisions were causing difficulties.

One of my brother-in-laws is an electrical engineer who is a “wing commander” and full bird colonel in the Air Force. He is about the same age as me and has always been very tech savvy. His experiences with his superiors and my experiences were eerily similar in some cases.

My experiences with “Apple Fan Boys” on the department were extremely comical in many cases. One of them was good friends with the chief who was in charge of Communications. They purchased a bunch of 1st generation iPhones which were inappropriate for fire department use for a number of reasons. But they were certainly not as bad as our Computer Aided Dispatch system. Fortunately, only the chiefs got them.

In regards to Apple’s invulnerability:

With enough effort, any computer can be hacked.

With a stupid enough user, any computer can be hacked.

My sister, bless her heart, believed some Pakistani guy who said her Mac had viruses and that he would clean them up for her.

My buddy bought a video game from a sketchy source for about 10% of the retail cost. Typed in his password while installing it. Ooops.

What generally doesn’t happen on Macs is the wonderful Windows habit of installing Mal-ware by just visiting an infected web site. Newer Windows versions protect against this better than they used to, but it can still happen.

In the Mac world you just have to follow a few, simple rules:

1. Install your apps from the app store.
2. If a window pops up and asks you to type in your password while visiting a web site or opening an email, don’t.
3. Don’t click on links that you are not certain where they go.

I would definitely agree that if you are using an Apple product and you only use “apps” from the “app store”, you only click on links that you are certain where they are going to, and you do not share your password with pop ups that appear while you have your browser open you are fairly unlikely to have a problem.

The problem is that you basically are never certain these days where web links are going. Popups are designed to look like system messages. And there are lots of tempting free “apps” available through sources other than the official “appstore”.

I have assisted a lot of people over the years who were having difficulties with their computers, phones and other devices. Even very smart people with good habits using secure systems end up with unexpected issues from unexpected sources. Sometimes this is from malevolent sources and sometimes it is just a hardware or software malfunction.

But these days especially, and I think that you would agree with me... one should never assume that their system is immune from problems. And this is an assumption that I have found that Apple and Mac users because of their OS’s relative security are far more likely to make. Windows users expect to have problems from malware.

In my experience Apple users often assume their hardware has gone bad when their computer is having a software problem. They tend to be looking for an excuse to buy the latest and greatest Apple product anyway. Windows users often assume that they are having a malware issue when their worn out ten year old hardware is starting to give up the ghost.

One last thing Dayglored, you may be aware that in the last week I have had a heated exchange with a certain Apple devotee who shall remain nameless. He has repeatedly put words in my mouth to set up his “straw man” type replies. We have not had many issues in the past despite his propensity toward name calling and disparaging remarks when confronted. This is because in the past I have just backed down when I have been bullied by this person.

The problem this time is that I had experience with the first generation iPhone and understood its limitations well. In my old age I guess I have gotten a little tired of being insulted and mischaracterized by bullies. I found myself locked into this argument and I do regret getting carried away and going on the attack. I know this other person has a history of health issues and really should not be agitated.

The iPhone has evolved into a very capable device. I still appreciate the flexibility of Android devices and even my old Windows Mobile devices but I understand why iPhones have now become very popular.

I actually encouraged my parents to get iPhones because I thought that 80 something year olds would probably have a less stressful experience with them. My wife is nationally renowned military historian; she has a 95 year old friend who was an army nurse during WWII who absolutely loves her Mac and her iPhone and still does amazing things using them.

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