Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Wrap That Rascal With A USB Condom
Hot Hardware ^ | 9/15/2013 | Seth Colaner

Posted on 09/16/2013 2:30:32 AM PDT by markomalley

Yep, a USB condom. That term is mostly a dose of marketing brilliance, which is to say that grabs your attention while also serving as an apt description of the product. A little company called int3.cc has developed a product—a USB condom—that blocks the data pins in your USB device while leaving the power pins free.

Thus, any time you need to plug a device such as a smartphones into a USB port to charge it—let’s say at a public charging kiosk or a coworker’s computer--you don’t have to worry about compromising any data or contracting some nasty malware. It’s one of those simple solutions that seems so obvious once someone came up with it, and surely lots of folks, such as business travelers, students, and anyone in a corporate environment that uses a USB stick in multiple machines, will be glad for it.

USB condom


USB Condoms are currently out of stock, but you should be able to order one as of Monday. It’s not clear how much the devices will cost, but it should be very little, and they’ll likely show up as plain-looking boards without much, if any, packaging nor a chassis.

“If you're going to run around plugging your phone into strange USB ports, at least be safe about it”, says int3.cc. Good advice, that.



TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 09/16/2013 2:30:32 AM PDT by markomalley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Brilliant.


2 posted on 09/16/2013 2:36:21 AM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gene Eric

...with one problem... Some smart devices require communicating with their charger. Usually it’s to verify charge current capability.


3 posted on 09/16/2013 2:40:07 AM PDT by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: dayglored

Could be why it’s a circuit board and not a cable adapter. The circuit makes nice to the charger, and passes the charging current on to the device, while completely blocking the data.

Phone <= “Condom” <=> Computer


4 posted on 09/16/2013 3:48:28 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Doing the same thing and expecting different results is called software engineering.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

I already do this (on the cable I use at work to keep my phone charged) — with a tiny strip of cellophane tape. This gadget is an incredible waste of money.


5 posted on 09/16/2013 4:20:11 AM PDT by NewJerseyJoe (Rat mantra: "Facts are meaningless! You can use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

One should always take precautions before plugging in.


6 posted on 09/16/2013 5:33:56 AM PDT by deoetdoctrinae (Gun-free zones are playgrounds for felons.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
This is actually a pretty good idea from a data security POV. I wonder if you can do anything with a connection from a charger plugged into a wall.

If it's possible, the NSA is probably doing it.

7 posted on 09/16/2013 8:18:12 AM PDT by zeugma (Is it evil of me to teach my bird to say "here kitty, kitty"?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson