💳 Payment Methods & Security
- “Tap-and-go is unsafe and can easily be hacked.”
➤ Fact: NFC payments use encrypted short-range signals and are generally safer than swiping a card. - “Using PayPal or Apple Pay is riskier than a credit card.”
➤ Fact: These services often add security layers like tokenization and buyer protection. - “A website with a padlock icon is always safe.”
➤ Fact: The padlock (HTTPS) means the connection is encrypted, not that the site is trustworthy.
🧩 Browsers, Extensions & Websites
- “All browser extensions are safe because they come from the Chrome Store.”
➤ Fact: Some extensions are malicious or data-harvesting; install only trusted ones. - “Private or Incognito mode keeps me anonymous.”
➤ Fact: It only hides activity from others on the same device, not from websites or ISPs. - “Clicking ‘unsubscribe’ from spam emails makes them stop.”
➤ Fact: Sometimes that confirms your email is active, leading to more spam. - “Popups that say ‘Your computer is infected!’ must be real.”
➤ Fact: Nearly always fake—close the tab/window and never call the number.
💾 Hardware: USB, Storage & Devices
- “USB sticks last forever.”
➤ Fact: They wear out with repeated writes—use for transfers or backup, not as a primary archive. - “Macs don’t get viruses.”
➤ Fact: Macs are less targeted, but they can get malware, especially from dodgy downloads. - “You should always ‘safely remove’ USB drives.”
➤ Fact: It’s only critical if you’re writing to the drive; read-only use is safe to unplug on modern systems.
🔋 Battery & Charging
- “Leaving your phone or laptop charging overnight ruins the battery.”
➤ Fact: Modern devices stop charging when full—no harm in overnight charging. - “Letting batteries drain completely before recharging is better.”
➤ Fact: Not for lithium-ion batteries—frequent partial charges are actually healthier. - “Using your phone while it’s charging is dangerous.”
➤ Fact: Perfectly safe with quality chargers; avoid knock-off or damaged accessories.
🖥️ Power & Device Usage
- “Leaving your computer on all the time damages it.”
➤ Fact: Not true for modern machines. Scheduled restarts help, but sleep mode is designed to be efficient. - “Turning your computer off each night saves power and prolongs life.”
➤ Fact: It can save power, but hardware lifespan is mostly unaffected by daily shutdowns.
🔗 QR Codes & Scanning
- “Scanning a QR code can give you a virus instantly.”
➤ Fact: The QR code itself is harmless—malicious links are the real risk.
➤ Teach: Always check the link preview before proceeding. - “QR codes are only for tech experts.”
➤ Fact: They’re designed to make things easier, e.g., menus, payments, websites.
🛡️ Security Software & Threats
- “If I have antivirus, I’m fully protected.”
➤ Fact: Antivirus helps, but you still need to be cautious about links, attachments, and downloads. - “Free antivirus is useless.”
➤ Fact: Many free tools (like Microsoft Defender) offer decent protection for basic users. - “My iPad/iPhone doesn’t need security updates.”
➤ Fact: Updates often patch vulnerabilities—they’re essential for all devices.
📱 Mobile Myths
- “More bars means better internet speed.”
➤ Fact: Not always—network congestion, not just signal strength, affects speed. - “I can’t get a virus on my phone.”
➤ Fact: Both Android and iPhones can get malware, especially via sideloaded apps or phishing. - “Apps running in the background drain your battery.”
➤ Fact: Modern OSes manage background apps efficiently. Manually closing them can waste more battery.
🌐 VPN Myths (Virtual Private Networks)
- “A VPN makes me completely anonymous online.”
➤ Fact: A VPN hides your IP address and encrypts your connection, which protects you from local snooping (like on public Wi-Fi) and hides your activity from your ISP.
➤ However, it does not prevent tracking via browser fingerprinting, cookies, or logged-in accounts. Websites can still recognize your device. - “I don’t need a VPN because I’m not doing anything illegal.”
➤ Fact: VPNs aren’t just for hiding wrongdoing. They’re useful for securing your connection (especially on public Wi-Fi), accessing geo-blocked content, and reducing tracking by hiding your IP address. - “All VPNs are the same.”
➤ Fact: Not true. Some free VPNs log your activity, insert ads, or sell your data.
➤ Reputable paid VPNs are more secure and private, with transparent policies and better performance. - “VPNs make my internet faster.”
➤ Fact: VPNs usually reduce speed slightly due to encryption overhead. In rare cases (e.g. ISP throttling certain sites), a VPN might improve speed—but that’s the exception. - “Using a VPN protects me from viruses.”
➤ Fact: VPNs do not block viruses or malware. You still need antivirus software and safe browsing practices. - “I only need a VPN when I’m overseas.”
➤ Fact: VPNs are helpful whenever you’re on untrusted networks, like in cafés, airports, hotels, or libraries. They’re also useful at home for privacy-conscious users. - “My browser’s Private Mode is the same as using a VPN.”
➤ Fact: Private/incognito mode only hides browsing history locally and deletes cookies after closing. It does not hide your IP, encrypt traffic, or stop websites from tracking you.
About the Image
“Myth” by kozemchuk is licensed under CC BY 2.0.