Use a USB Condom to Prevent “juice Squeezing”

Thanks to a recent FBI tweet , you may have come across the term ” jockjacking ” somewhere online recently. Hacking refers to infecting unsuspecting devices with malware through a public charging port like the ones you might see at an airport. Although there are no statistics on the frequency of this practice, this FBI warning should be taken seriously. And luckily, staying safe is pretty easy. Just use a data condom.

Before we discuss ways to fight scams, it’s important to know that public electrical outlets are completely safe. Public USB ports come with risks. As long as you have your own power adapter and a connected USB cable that you plug into the wall, you have nothing to worry about. (And if you’re somewhere without outlets, you can always take a massive travel battery with you to keep your devices charged while you’re on the go.)

However, there is another way to protect yourself and your devices if you need to use a public USB port: a USB condom. Like other types of condom, the USB condom protects you from getting infected with all sorts of nasty viruses and keeps your devices working as intended.

Boring people call these things USB data blockers, and to be honest, they are. A “condom” is a key that blocks all attempts to transfer data from any port and allows only power to pass through. You plug the dongle into your device’s USB port, so no matter what connection you use on the other side (Lightning, Micro-USB, or USB-C), you’re protected. The USB condom does not contain the pins required for data transfer, and you may miss out on other benefits such as fast charging. But if you’re using a public USB port, you probably shouldn’t expect fast charging speeds.

So keep a couple of USB condoms in your bag when you go out. The Plugable USB-A condom is quite popular and costs around $8. On the USB-C side, check the PortaPow option ; you can get a pack of two for $12. The latter’s brand page on Amazon includes all sorts of connector options so you can find what you need (they also offer USB-A to USB-C adapters).

[ Like a Geek ]