4 Ways Your Electronics Can Come Back to Bite You

Technology is great and all but are we addicted to tech? More importantly, can our electronics come back to bite us in the rear when we least expect it?

Electronics have countless advantages, and while they’re great, there are several downsides, too. Check out these four ways that your electronics could come back to bite you.

They Can Turn Into Criminal Arsonists

When handled improperly, your trusty device could quickly turn into a criminal arsonist.

For example, in May 2013, an overheated laptop started a fire that destroyed a two-family home. In this case, the laptop user left her device to charge on a stack of cardboard before heading off to bed.

When the laptop overheated, it produced enough heat to light the cardboard, ultimately sending the entire home up in flames.

To avoid fires like this, keep your devices away from combustible materials, avoid plugging in damaged electronics, and use a surge protector, and then check out these other tips.

They Can Become Accessory to Identity Theft

Today, people store so much personal information on their devices that it makes it simple for thieves to get a hold of their data. Not only can identity thefts hack into a computer and access documents, but they can gain access to personal information from stolen devices.

One statistic shows that one in 14 smartphone users have been victims of identity theft. If you leave your social media accounts open, store your credit card number on your device, or save important documents on your smartphone or laptop, a thief could access this just by pick-pocketing your device.

If you feel you are at risk of identity theft, install anti-virus software onto your device, password-protect your electronics, and avoid leaving any accounts open.

They Can Sabotage Your Career Goals

Another complication of electronic devices is that they can prevent you from getting the job you applied for. A 2012 study by CareerBuilder found that 37 percent of employers use social media to screen applicants for jobs.

If you post crazy party photos, talk bad about past employers, or show proof that you’ve lied on your application via social media, then your device could make it difficult to get a job. To protect yourself from losing a job over your Facebook or Twitter posts, be wary about what you post and keep your profile private.

They Fuel Your Addiction

Any addiction is dangerous, compromising your productivity, relationships, and quality of life. Today, countless people become addicted to games on their devices, such as World of Warcraft. In the example with World of Warcraft, one estimate shows that 40 percent of players have an addiction to the game. With 9.3 million subscribers, that makes well over 3 million addictions all fueled by electronics.

People also become addicted to devices alone, not just games on them. CNN.com reports that the average smartphone user checks their device 34 times per day, which can have equally negative effects, including decreased productivity and an impact on your social life. To avoid addictions, schedule time away from your device.

While many of these effects are rare, you could still fall into these traps, but you can avoid these complications by following the mentioned precautionary measures.