Question about using a USB condom for public charging

I plugged my phone into a charging station at the airport in Denver last week and then got a weird pop-up asking for permissions... never seen that before. My buddy said I should get a USB condom, that little data blocker dongle thing. Do those actually stop stuff like that, or is it a waste of $12?

4 comments

4 Comments

davidkim1mo ago

Man if your phone is asking for random permissions at an airport charging station that thing is basically a spy, you definitely need a USB condom unless you want your phone to start sending out invites to your ex.

patricia2621mo agoMost Upvoted

USB condoms block data pins, so it can't send anything anywhere.

roberts.leo1mo ago

3.5mm jack adapters from sketchy brands are also a risk, those things can hide tiny chips that steal your data. My buddy got hit at a gas station charger and his bank caught 7 fraudulent purchases before he even knew. Just a heads up that its not limited to USB ports these days.

the_paul1mo ago

Grab a defective USB condom and congrats, now your phone won't charge at all because cheap ones can fry the circuit. I learned this the hard way when I bought a random one off Amazon and my phone started treating power like it was a suggestion. The real trick nobody talks about is just using a battery bank you fully trust, because if the condom fails you're still cooked. Also, if the airport charger has a rubber flap over the port, check for glue residue since I've seen people pull out hidden skimmers that way.