Remedies for Xmas tech woes

While you were opening Christmas presents and lying on the beach, the tech world appeared to implode.

It was hit by a double whammy of iPhone battery woes followed by the news nearly all computer chips are vulnerable to being hacked.

It’s understandable if you’ve missed all the drama so here’s a quick catch-up on what you need to know and what to do with your devices.

Firstly, don’t panic. The chances of your iPhone dying or your computer being hacked are almost zero.

Also, the steps you need to take are simple.

First, the iPhone battery fiasco. Apple was hit with a barrage of complaints after it revealed a software update had slowed the speed of certain iPhones that had older batteries to prevent unexpected shutdowns.

But this is not a conspiracy theory come true. Apple was trying to help consumers get more consistent performance from their iPhone.

The problem was that it didn’t tell anyone what it was doing. The issue only affects the ‘‘older’’ iPhone models - the 6, 6s, SE, and 7.

Apple will soon issue a software update so you can check your phone’s battery and see if its condition is affecting performance.

If the battery is performing poorly, then it’s worth getting it replaced as iPhone performance returns to normal when an aged battery is replaced with a new one.

You can do it at an authorised Apple repairer. It’ll cost you a discounted $49, a price that’s available until the end of the year.

On to the Intel computer chip debacle. Last week two microchip flaws were discovered that affect nearly every device and software.

While this sounds potentially disastrous, nothing has actually been hacked. Also, a fix for one of the problems is already becoming available.

Intel and other tech firms will be scrambling for months to fix this but there’s little the average consumer can do.

In the meantime, make sure your software on all your devices are up to date and keep an eye out for new updates.

Tech woes sometimes appear scary but the best thing to do is not to panic and keep informed about how to protect yourself.

The chances of your iPhone dying or your computer being hacked are almost zero.