Light Your World – Debunking Some IT Myths

I remember when I opened my Facebook account, and then proceeded to send a friend request to Chris Brown because I had a big major crush on him. My Chris Brown then came into my inbox and told me to send him airtime.

I sent him airtime worth 250 shillings. My three days’ lunch all went to the wrong Chris Brown.

And with that, I was initiated to the reality and world of idlers and internet cons.

AN OLD MYTH was that social media and especially Facebook was an idlers hangout. Just a few years back, playing games on your phone could easily be dismissed as time wasting. An unnecessary distraction. But these new fun habits are being monetized – and big.

For instance, electronic sports, Esports, is expected to reach $12.4 Billion by 2030, as an industry, worldwide. Playing video games  all day will take you NO WHERE in life – (31 year old Tyler Blevins (Ninja),  worth $17 Million, has a different story)

Smartphones are the new primary platform and you can play your favorite game anywhere. Most characters, assets, and even languages are adopting African characteristics. We are moving away from gaming dens and a negative reputation around video gaming.

What are some other myths?

1. Mac Computers and Viruses.

For a long time, it was believed that apple products were not susceptible to viruses. Apple even made this claim which they later retracted after it emerged that their products were not safe from viruses after all. Macs however, are less vulnerable to viruses as compared to other PC computers but not entirely safe. It is important to protect your Mac devices against getting viruses by installing antivirus programs.

• Antivirus Software’s are 100% Protective.

Speaking of software, there is a common belief that once you install an antivirus software, then your devices will be safe from malwares. This is not true. If your software warns you against accessing certain websites or downloading certain programs, it is extremely important to heed that warning. Additionally, antivirus software does not always protect you against hackers; the best protection against them is to use a firewall.

• Shut Down Your Computer a Night

This has got to be the most misused myth of all times, that shutting down your computer at night makes it last longer. When computers were first introduced, their hard drives wore out much quicker than today’s devices. Contemporary hard drives are much stronger and don’t require frequent shutdowns to preserve the life of the hard drive. If you are concerned about conserving power, computers offer power saving modes that also eliminate the need to restart the device every day. Additionally, utilizing ‘sleep mode’ conserves power and allows the device to be ready for use as soon as it is turned on.

• More Bars Better Service.

Full bars do not automatically mean better service, no. Sometimes your bars could be full but you will be having terrible service. The bars on your cell phone do not indicate better wireless reception. This is a big myth that needs to come to an end. There are several other factors which determine the quality of service that you receive, such as the number of other people also connected to the same tower and your service provider.

• Incognito Mode or Private is more Private.

A lot of people that use Incognito mode or private browsers have the misconception that their information is safe and that they will remain anonymous. Incognito mode only ensures that your history will not be traced. It is only safe if you do not want the people around you to see your browser history. Your internet service provider and the sites you visit will have your information whether you use incognito mode or not.

• Bigger Megapixel, Better Camera Quality.

The quality of an image is influenced by the megapixel resolution, the quality of lenses being used, and the sensor’s ability to capture light. If you are using a camera with high-quality sensors and lenses but a lower megapixel count, your camera will be able to produce higher quality images than a camera with a high megapixel count and lower quality sensors and lenses. The only reason to buy a camera purely based on the megapixel count is if your goal was to print a very large and detailed image. Additionally, if the megapixel count is increased without increasing the size of the sensor, this can actually reduce the amount of light that reaches each pixel.

There are so many lies and myths in the information that we are already digesting today. Stay in the know, separate truth from lies, keep learning.