There are countless myths within the world of technology. Most of them are false, rumors, or have a shred of truth that has been stretched. On the other hand, there are also many truths about every day technology that escape the rumor mill. Here are five little known facts and truths about technology to enlighten your enlighten you.
1) Printers store your data
Not many people seem to be aware of the fact that printers (and multi-function devices such as copiers or fax machines) have built-in memory, similar to a computer hard drive. This means that by following some simple steps, you can recall recently printed documents and that an office or school can track what you’ve been copying. It’s good to remember this if you ever sell or donate an old printer and to ensure all personal or sensitive data is erased from the machine before getting rid of it.
2) Keeping your laptop constantly plugged in could shorten its life
Each cell in your laptop’s battery is charged to a voltage level. The higher the charge, the higher the voltage level and more voltage leads to more stress. Instead of keeping your laptop constantly plugged in while using it, an article in Wired says it’s best to keep your laptop’s battery charge between 40% and 80%.
3) Rechargeable batteries are more cost effective than disposable ones
This actually depends on how often you use battery-powered devices. If you frequently use your camera, game controllers or other devices, rechargeable is definitely the way to go. The cost may be pricier in the beginning however after the initial investment, you’ll only be paying for the electricity to recharge the batteries, saving you quite a bit in the long-term. On the other hand, if you’re someone who has little household gadgets and only uses a camera on rare occasions, rechargeable probably isn’t worth it. Lifehacker.com compares the exact costs of each choice.
4) Webcams can be activated remotely
This may be the scariest fact. It’s true, your webcam can be activated remotely with hacker software. Most laptops with a built-in camera have a small light that is supposed to turn on any time the camera is in use, however hackers have found a way to override this and prevent the light from turning on. A research study conducted at Johns Hopkins University demonstrates how this is possible. The best way to ensure your privacy is to keep a piece of tape over your camera when you’re not using it.
5) You may not know when you have a virus
Many people think that PC viruses always come with some kind of indication, like regular computer glitches, pop-ups, missing files or other signs something is off. Although this is true for some viruses, many modern viruses are able to successfully hide from users without giving any typical signs of being there. Meanwhile, they’re stealing your information, sending spam, etc. This is why it’s so important to make sure you have up-to-date security and anti-virus software running at all times.
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Additional sources:
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/10/25/5-tech-myths-hear-all-time/
http://www.2-20rm.com/blog/five-true-but-scary-facts-about-technology/
http://www.2-20rm.com/blog/five-true-but-scary-facts-about-technology/