A camera with more megapixels automatically takes better photos.

Megapixels only determine the resolution of the image, not its quality. Image quality depends on multiple factors including sensor size, lens quality, image processing algorithms, and lighting conditions. A 12MP camera with a high-end sensor and lens can easily outperform a 48MP camera with a cheap sensor. This is why professional photographers often choose cameras with "fewer" megapixels but better overall components.

Don't get lured by marketing that emphasizes big numbers—research the camera's other specs and real-world performance before buying. For most users, a 12-20MP camera with good low-light performance will produce better results than a 50MP camera with poor optics.

Browsing in incognito or private mode means no one can see what you're doing online.

Incognito mode only prevents your browser from saving your history, cookies, and site data locally. It doesn't hide your activity from websites you visit, your internet service provider, your employer (if using a work network), or government surveillance agencies. Your IP address remains visible, and websites can still track you through various fingerprinting techniques.

For genuine privacy protection, you need additional tools like a reputable VPN service, encrypted browsers like Tor, privacy-focused search engines, and browser extensions that block trackers and fingerprinting.

Keeping your phone plugged in all night will overcharge and damage the battery.

Modern smartphones use lithium-ion batteries with smart charging systems that stop charging once the battery hits 100%. Most current devices also implement optimized charging that slows down the final charging stages to reduce stress on the battery. What actually degrades batteries faster is regularly letting them drain completely to 0%, exposing them to extreme temperatures, or using incompatible charging equipment.

Overnight charging is perfectly fine for modern devices—just don't leave your phone under your pillow or in direct sunlight where heat can build up. For optimal battery longevity, keep your charge level between 20% and 80% when possible, but don't stress about occasional full charges or discharges.

Full bars on your phone means you have a great connection.

Signal bars measure signal strength (how powerful the signal is), not signal quality (how well data transfers). You can have full bars and still experience slow speeds or dropped connections if the network is congested, if there's interference from buildings or weather, or if the cell tower is overloaded with users. Additionally, different carriers measure "bars" differently, making them an inconsistent metric.

When troubleshooting poor performance, consider factors beyond just signal strength. Try switching between networks (5G to 4G, or vice versa), using Wi-Fi calling, or checking actual speed tests rather than relying solely on bar indicators.

If you don't properly eject your USB drive, you'll corrupt your data.

On modern operating systems (post-2015), especially with flash drives, data is usually written instantly by default and ejecting is often unnecessary. Windows, macOS, and Linux have implemented better caching systems that minimize the risk of data corruption. However, if large files are still being written or if the drive is being accessed by an application, removing the drive can still cause issues.

While safe removal is still a good habit, especially for external hard drives and when dealing with important data, it's not as critical as it used to be—especially for quick, read-only actions like checking a file. Modern file systems are designed to be more resilient to unexpected disconnections.

Apple computers are immune to malware and viruses.

macOS is more secure by design and historically less targeted than Windows, but it's absolutely not immune to malware. There are plenty of Mac-specific viruses, ransomware, and malicious applications, especially as Apple devices have grown in popularity and market share. In recent years, Mac malware has been increasing significantly, with several high-profile attacks targeting Apple systems.

All computer users should practice good security hygiene, including using security software, keeping systems updated, being cautious about downloads, and backing up important data. No operating system provides perfect security out of the box.

Force closing apps on your phone will save battery and improve performance.

Most modern mobile operating systems (iOS and Android) manage background apps efficiently. When you switch away from an app, the system automatically freezes it in memory, using minimal resources. Manually closing apps can actually use more power because reopening them requires loading them from storage and reinitializing them, which uses more CPU and battery than keeping them dormant in memory.

Let your phone handle background apps—manually closing them is often counterproductive and can reduce battery life. Only force close apps that are misbehaving or that you know are actively consuming resources in the background (like GPS navigation or music streaming).

Adding more RAM will always make your computer run faster.

More RAM helps only if you're currently using up all available memory. If your tasks already use less than your installed RAM, adding more won't improve speed. Think of RAM as a workspace—if you're using only half your desk, getting a bigger desk won't make you work faster. Computer performance is a complex interplay of multiple components, including CPU, storage speed, GPU, thermal conditions, and software optimization.

Understand your system's actual bottlenecks before upgrading. For many users, switching from a mechanical hard drive (HDD) to a solid-state drive (SSD) provides a more noticeable performance boost than adding RAM. Monitoring your system's resource usage can help identify what's actually limiting performance.

Your phone could explode just by charging it normally.

Battery explosions and fires are extremely rare and usually caused by manufacturing defects, physical damage to the battery, or using cheap, uncertified third-party chargers. Reputable devices from major manufacturers undergo extensive safety testing and have multiple layers of protection built into their charging systems. The infamous Samsung Galaxy Note 7 incident in 2016 was an exception, not the rule, and led to even more stringent safety standards.

Use official or certified third-party chargers and cables, avoid using visibly damaged batteries or chargers, and don't expose your phone to extreme heat. But don't panic about normal charging—the risk is minimal with proper equipment.

5G networks cause cancer, suppress the immune system, or have other harmful health effects.

There's no credible scientific evidence supporting these claims. 5G uses non-ionizing radiation, which lacks the energy to damage DNA or tissues. Unlike ionizing radiation (X-rays, gamma rays), radio waves from cellular networks can't break chemical bonds or cause cancer. Regulatory bodies around the world, including the World Health Organization, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, and the FDA, have deemed it safe within current limits.

Tech fear-mongering can distract from real issues and lead to poor policy decisions. Focus on digital literacy and legitimate concerns like privacy and security, not on conspiracy theories without scientific backing.

Using private browsing mode prevents websites and advertisers from tracking you.

Private browsing (like Chrome's Incognito mode) only prevents your local browser from storing your history, cookies, and form data. Your IP address is still visible to websites, your ISP still sees your activity, and sophisticated tracking techniques like browser fingerprinting can still identify you. Additionally, if you log into any websites during a private browsing session, they'll know exactly who you are.

For true privacy protection, you need additional tools like a VPN, privacy-focused browser extensions that block trackers, and potentially a dedicated privacy browser. Understanding the limitations of private browsing helps you make better privacy choices.

When you delete a file and empty the recycle bin, it's gone forever.

When you delete a file, the operating system only removes the pointer to the file's location. The actual data remains on the storage device until it's overwritten by new data. With the right software, deleted files can often be recovered unless they've been securely wiped using specialized tools or the storage has been physically destroyed. This applies to both traditional hard drives and SSDs, though SSDs handle data deletion differently due to their architecture.

When disposing of old devices or storage media containing sensitive information, use secure erasure methods or encryption. For truly sensitive data, consider physical destruction of the storage media after secure erasure.

High refresh rate displays (120Hz, 144Hz, etc.) only benefit gamers.

While gamers were early adopters of high refresh rate technology, the smoother motion and reduced blur benefit all users. Scrolling through websites, animations in the operating system, video playback, and even basic cursor movement all feel more fluid and responsive. Many users report less eye strain and fatigue when using higher refresh rate displays for extended periods, and the improved responsiveness can make a device feel faster even if its actual processing speed hasn't changed.

When shopping for new devices, consider refresh rate alongside resolution and color accuracy, especially if you spend many hours using your device. The difference between 60Hz and 120Hz is immediately noticeable to most users, regardless of what they're doing.

You should regularly drain your battery to 0% before recharging to maintain battery health.

This advice was true for older nickel-cadmium (NiCad) batteries, but it's harmful for the lithium-ion batteries used in modern devices. Lithium-ion batteries actually suffer more stress when completely discharged. Each complete discharge-recharge cycle contributes to the battery's overall wear. Modern batteries generally perform best when kept between 20% and 80% charged, and frequent partial charges are better than full discharge cycles.

Following outdated battery advice can significantly reduce your device's battery lifespan. It's better to charge your phone when convenient rather than waiting for it to die completely, and there's no need to worry about developing a "battery memory" as was the case with older battery technologies.

Paying for faster internet speeds always results in better online performance.

Internet speed is just one factor in online performance. Beyond a certain threshold (usually 50-100 Mbps for most households), other factors become more important: latency (ping), jitter, packet loss, network congestion, server capacity, and your own home network setup. For most common activities like streaming video, web browsing, or video calls, a stable 25-50 Mbps connection is sufficient. Gigabit speeds are overkill for the majority of users and use cases.

Before upgrading to expensive high-speed plans, consider what's actually causing performance issues. Upgrading your router, addressing Wi-Fi dead zones, or reducing network congestion might improve your experience more than paying for higher speeds you can't fully utilize.