Charging your smartphone, tablet, or laptop in public places has become a common practice for many of us. After all, who hasn’t run out of battery on a long day away from home? From airports to coffee shops to libraries, there’s no shortage of options to give our much-needed devices a little juice. However, this convenience hides a risk that is often underestimated: data theft. Fortunately, there is a simple and effective solution to this problem: the “USB condom.”
To charge your devices safely, use a USB condom!
You may be wondering what a USB condom, more commonly known as a data blocker, is. As the name suggests, the USB condom is a small dongle that plugs in between your charging cable and the USB port, blocking any attempt to transfer data. In other words, it acts as a shield, allowing only the energy needed to recharge to pass through. This way, you can plug in your device in public places with peace of mind, without worrying about your personal information falling into the wrong hands.
Now you might be wondering how much it costs and where you can get a USB condom. The good news is that these little security devices are both affordable and easy to find. For instance, you can buy one on Amazon for as little as ten euros. But be careful; make sure you choose the model that corresponds to your device’s charging cable: USB-A to USB-A, USB-C to USB-A, or USB-C to USB-C, the options are numerous.
JSAUX USB Data Blockers [Set of 4] USB Condom For Charging Only, Against Hackers and Viruses, Protect Privacy and Data Security-Red Amazon €11.99
JSAUX USB Data Blocking & USB C Data Blocking (4 Pack), Transparent USB-A Data Blocking to USB-A & USB-C to USB-C Only for Charging, Refusal of Hacking, Charging Amazon €12.99
But why is it so important to use a USB condom?
The answer lies in a concept known as “juice jacking.” This term refers to a relatively simple but extremely effective cyberattack technique.
All a hacker needs to do is compromise a charging station by installing a “homemade” device. This hardware is designed to intercept communications between the device and the charging system, allowing for data theft or malware installation without the user’s knowledge.
This malicious practice exploits the dual functionality of USB cables, which are capable of transferring both power and data. You may not realize that while charging your device, you could also be permitting data transfer.
This makes juice jacking particularly sneaky, as you don’t realize anything is wrong until it’s potentially too late. The consequences can be severe, ranging from the theft of sensitive personal information, such as your login credentials and credit card numbers, to the installation of software that can spy on you or lock access to your data.
Faced with this threat, the use of a USB condom appears to be an interesting security measure. By blocking data while allowing electricity to pass through, these small devices provide effective protection against juice jacking. This allows you to charge your device in public places with peace of mind. 😉
