Did you know that 3.5 billion people worldwide are smartphone users? Even more impressive is that over half of those individuals are in Asia. All in all, spending through these devices amounts to the billions; $50 billion in 2020 alone.
Interestingly, many smartphone myths still abound, even though they’ve been around since 1992.
To that end, we came up with this guide listing (and busting) the most common myths about smartphones. Read on to discover what they are and the truth behind these misconceptions.
They Don’t Get Viruses
Just because smartphones are intelligent devices doesn’t mean they’re impervious to threats. Viruses, along with other types of malware, can still infect them. For instance, a study reported 9.6 million mobile malware attacks in the third quarter of 2021 alone.
Malware can infect all types of smartphones, and yes, even iPhones. You can unknowingly download them to your device if you install unofficial apps. That can also happen if you click on a link sent through SMS, MMS, a pop-up browser ad, or an email.
Free Wi-Fi Is No Longer Dangerous
Google says it has an encryption rate of 95% across all its traffic. Encryption is a technology that scrambles the information sent between browsers and servers. That renders the data unreadable to potential interceptors, such as hackers.
So, it’s true that Wi-Fi safety has improved over the years, thanks to data encryption.
Unfortunately, many hackers are geniuses and use sophisticated tools to bypass security technology. The fact that many files on the web remain unencrypted compounds the problem.
One study also showed that 5.5% of the top 10,000 sites secured by encryption have security flaws. Hackers can then use those vulnerabilities to decrypt the sites to some degree.
That’s why free or public Wi-Fi isn’t 100% safe to use, as hackers can still be lurking in the shadows. If you connect your smartphone to an intercepted network, you’re at risk of a security breach.
If you must connect to a public Wi-Fi hotspot, be sure to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs provide some of the best smartphone privacy and security protections. Some are free, anyway, so there’s no reason not to have one or two of these apps on your phone.
Overnight Charging Kills Your Phone’s Battery
It won’t, so long as you don’t do it every night. However, keeping its battery at 100% for prolonged periods can affect its health. At least, that’s what Apple says for its iOS products.
Android phone makers, including Samsung, have the same recommendation. Samsung advises against using your plugged-in phone that has reached its full charge. According to the company, it can lower battery life if done repeatedly.
So while overnight charging won’t kill your phone’s battery right away, doing it often can harm it in the long run.
You can maintain your battery’s health by charging it in the day so that you can unplug it once it reaches 100%.
Using Mobile Phones Can Cause Cancer
There’s no scientific evidence that mobile phones, including smartphones, can cause cancer. It’s true, though, that these devices emit radiation.
Mobile phones use radiofrequency (RF) radiation, also called radio waves, to send signals. Depending on the type of phone, it can emit RF in the frequency range of 0.7 to 80 gigahertz (GHz).
According to experts, those levels are non-ionizing and are too low to cause DNA damage. They also carried out studies to see if widespread cell phone use caused a spike in cancer incidents. They found no change in brain and central nervous system cancer cases even with the surge in phone usage.
Shockproof Phones Withstand Same Fall Heights
Smartphones undergo drop tests before their manufacturers can label them shockproof. They exist to ensure makers’ claims of their products being shockproof are true. The assessments involve dropping the phones in a free-fall manner from various heights.
So, one model can be shockproof from a height of 1.2 meters, while another can survive a fall from 1.8 meters. If the unit drop-tested at 1.2 m falls from a height of 1.8 m, it’s likely to break. In short, shockproof phones can survive falls, but how far they can go without damage varies.
Whether you have a shockproof phone or not, you can improve its durability with a shockproof case. These cases often use shock-absorbing materials, like thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and unbending polycarbonate. They can protect most devices and even earbuds, such as AirPods, from falls at great heights.
Quitting Background Apps Save Battery
This myth most likely originated from how closing apps can help speed up a slow computer. The latter is true, but it doesn’t apply to smartphones, including iOS and Android devices.
Apple and Google confirmed that doing so doesn’t help boost battery life. On the contrary, it’s one of the smartphone mistakes you’d want to avoid, as it can do more harm.
You Can Throw Away Smartphones
Depending on where you live, it might be illegal to throw smartphones in the trash. Many states, including California and New York, ban such practices.
You don’t want to throw old electronics anyway, as they contain recyclable materials. Recycling, in turn, reduces the need to obtain new materials.
Another reason is that electronics contain materials that degrade in landfill environments. That can cause them to leach toxic substances, contaminating the environment.
Even if you live in a state that doesn’t ban electronics in landfills, you should still recycle them. You might even make some money off them if you bring them to a recycling facility. If it still works, though, you can sell or trade them in to fund your next gadget purchase.
Stop Believing These Smartphone Myths
There you have it, your guide on the most pervasive smartphone myths you have to stop believing now.
You’ve learned that viruses can infect smartphones, but they don’t cause cancer. They can still cause harm if improperly disposed of, though, so never throw old gadgets in the trash. If someone tells you otherwise, educate them and gently correct their misconception.
Did you like this article? If so, you’re sure to love our other informative guides, so feel free to read more of our blog posts now!
