Productivity 2023

Technology runs most of how a business operates now, and a fair few myths have travelled along with it. Here are the ones we still hear most often, and what is actually true.

Myth: leaving a device plugged in overnight ruins the battery

Modern laptops and phones manage their own charging. Once they reach full, they stop drawing charge, even while connected to power. Leaving a device on the charger overnight is fine. Heat and age wear a battery far more than a night on the cable does.

Myth: incognito mode makes you anonymous

Incognito, or private browsing, stops your own device saving history and cookies. It does not hide what you do from the websites you visit, your internet provider, or your workplace network. If you genuinely need privacy on a connection, that is what a VPN is for, not incognito.

Myth: Macs cannot get viruses

Macs have historically seen less malware, but that reflects market share, not immunity. As more businesses run them, they are increasingly targeted, and per-device infection rates now sit closer to Windows than most people assume. A Mac still needs updates, sensible protection, and the same care with links and downloads.

Myth: more megapixels means a better camera

Megapixels only describe resolution. Lens quality, sensor size, and how the device processes an image matter far more, especially in low light. A higher number on the box does not make a better photo, and for most business use the difference is invisible.

The one that matters most for a business

The costliest myth is not on this list in so many words: "we are too small for anyone to bother with." It is the assumption behind skipped updates, shared passwords and no backups, and it is the one worth retiring first. If any of the habits above are floating around your team, a quick tidy-up of the basics pays for itself.