Truth or Myth

Security threats are hyped by Software companies to sell Anti Virus MYTH – Research by the BBC showed that one in 10 web sites now harbour malicious code designed to attack your PC. One in 44 emails was found to have malicious intent, and half of those contained links to Trojan horses, which can do untold damage to your PC. Being smart about what you access on the internet can reduce the risk to your PC but an Anti-Virus is still an essential piece of software for everyone. Flat screens are bad for your health! MYTH – This is a complete con conceived by specialist internet companies trying to sell us equipment like screen protectors and glasses to save our eye sight. In fact, flat screens are less damaging than many older monitors, which worked by redrawing the screen many times a second. Just please remember folks to not stare at your monitors too long as this can strain your peepers! Apple Macs can catch a virus! TRUTH – the only reason Macs don’t contract viruses is because it is not financially beneficial for hackers to write them, due to there not being enough Mac users in the world (sorry Steve Jobs). With PC protection continuing to get better and better it may just be a matter of time before someone decides to pick on Apple. Loyal Mac followers have become complacent at their peril. Wi-Fi gives you cancer! MYTH – With the increase in Wi-Fi networks all over the country there are concerns being raised about Wi-Fi emitting dangerous radiation, this is not the case - Frequency emissions from Wi-Fi devices are 600 times lower than the maximum recommended dose for humans. Once I delete something from my PC is it gone forever! MYTH – There are programs all over the internet to retrieve deleted files from hard disks. There are 2 ways to avoid someone being able to retrieve them – do a completely wipe on your hard drive, to ensure this is done correctly you are best to get a professional to do this or take a hammer to your hard drive – just remember to watch your thumbs! Using a third party ink will void your warranty MYTH – Although they may not produce the best result, according to Canon, Epson and Lexmark, using another company's ink cartridge or refills does not automatically invalidate your warranty. Laptops on your knee can make you infertile TRUTH – In 2004 scientists in America claimed that men who rest hot laptops on their laps risked making themselves infertile, head researcher Yefim Sheynkin said: “This is not a short-term occasional exposure, but a repetitive use of a computer, a couple of times a day for many years.”. More research is currently being done to determine if this is a temporary or permanent effect. Male laptop users (or their wives) may be wise to invest in a laptop rest. Mobile phones can crash a plane, cause a petrol station to implode and literally stop a heart beating! MYTH – Despite being told we are not allowed to user our mobile phones in certain area, hospitals, petrol stations and planes specialists state that the claims against mobiles are based on absolutely no evidence. Just to be on the safe side don’t call your Mum from 30,000 feet – it may be a myth but it is not one I am prepared to question too much!