Should you turn off your computer at night?

According to a survey by the US cybersecurity company Panda Security, only about 37% of 1,000 Americans surveyed said they turn off their computers every night.

Many people believe that it is best to shut down your computer at the end of the day, just like how we need a good night's sleep to recharge. However, it is not always necessary to completely shut down your computer after every use.

Without user intervention, most computers will automatically go into “sleep mode” after a period of inactivity. For laptops, simply closing the screen is enough to trigger this mode, although you can change the settings if you want.

Sleep mode is an energy-saving feature that uses very little power but keeps open files, programs, and data ready so that when you press a key or move the mouse, your computer can quickly resume without having to start from scratch.

Additionally, sleep mode is useful when you want to let your computer run background tasks like software updates or virus scans without having to leave it fully powered on.

However, sleep mode also has some disadvantages. If you are connected to a public and unsecured Wi-Fi network, leaving your computer in sleep mode can make it more vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Furthermore, despite consuming very little electricity, this mode still uses a certain amount of energy, which can be worth noting if you want to minimize your electricity bill.

If you're concerned about the safety of your equipment, investing in a surge protector is also a good idea, which helps protect your computer from unexpected power surges that can damage hardware.

Additionally, sometimes it is beneficial to completely shut down your computer. This frees up RAM, helps the system run more smoothly, and reduces the risk of software errors due to continuous running processes.

One thing to consider, however, is that the computer boot process consumes a significant amount of power, and some argue that this can put stress on the hardware, reducing the lifespan of the machine over time.

For this reason, many experts recommend that if you use your computer regularly, it is best to only turn it off and on once a day. Only if the computer is not used for a long period of time should it be turned off completely.

“It all depends on how often you use your computer,” says Steven Leslie, an expert at the US tech services company Geek Squad. “If you use it multiple times a day, leave it on all the time. If you only use it for an hour or two a day or less, turn it off after use.”

“Leaving your computer on all the time is less stressful than turning it on and off repeatedly throughout the day, but it's still a form of sustained stress on the system,” he notes.

In short, whether or not to turn off the computer depends on each person's needs. If you use your laptop regularly, leaving it on for a few days in a row will not cause any harm.

However, you should still completely shut down your device at least once a week and take the necessary precautions to ensure the longevity and performance of your device.