'Digital condom' 
that protects against USB infections

Information Security experts have created a “USB condom” which allows you to charge smart phone or tablet batteries from strange USB ports without risking accidental syncing of private data or contracting a computer virus. 

The USB condom is a small chip with male and female ports which connects between your device and the unknown USB port, linking-up the power cables but severing any potential data connection.



Now that most devices charge via ubiquitous USB leads it can be tempting to top-up batteries by connecting to any nearby computer or charging station. But because USB offers data transfer as well as a power source, it is not without its risks.
Fake charging stations can be created to harvest sensitive data, and plugging a smartphone into a strange computer can accidentally backup your data to the computer, leaving it accessible by the owner.
USB cables are actually composed of several entwined cables, wrapped in a single protective covering. Some of the cables allow data transfer, while two provide five volts of electricity. To charge a device you only need the power cables, not the data cables – which can actually put you at risk of unnecessary data transfer or infection by malware.