14 DAY TRIAL // A privately-held company in New York launched a product that can help users protect against infecting mobile devices when charging them from suspicious sources, such as public charging spots.
The device created by Xipiter is an electronic board, called USB Condom, that acts as a security layer between the device and the power source. Its purpose is to electronically disable the data pins in the connector, thus making the cable charge-only.
Basically, any threat that could be lurking on a system waiting to be delivered via USB becomes ineffective.
One of the dangers this type of protection defends against is juice-jacking, a method used by crooks to deliver malware to the victim’s mobile phone via public, free charging kiosks.
Crooks do tamper with these machines in an attempt to siphon data available on the plugged electronic device. They can collect files stored on the device, as well as details about contacts or messages.
However, connecting the mobile phone to the USB port of a suspicious computer for battery charging purposes is a more likely method to get the device infected; USB Condom is advertised as a good solution for either case.
Its price is $10 / €7.50 and it can stay connected to the USB cable at all times, and be removed only when synchronization of files is desired.
Of course, by cutting off the data pins in the USB cable, the gadget also prevents malware from reaching the computer as a result of connecting infected devices to it.
The product has been launched as an experiment towards the end of 2013, and the batch sold out in no time. Staying true to its name, the device now benefits from a protective plastic wrap.
At the beginning of the year, the company announced that full bus power to both iOS and Android was ensured.
USB Condom has enjoyed great publicity not only from media publications in the industry, but also from security researchers. Back in March, Mikko Hypponen tweeted that he had received the device in the mail, giving him the opportunity to use any charging station, without running the risk of compromising his mobile phone.
It is available in three forms, covering the needs of regular USB ports, as well as mini and micro ones.
USB Condom is not the only solution for this sort of trouble. Juice-Jack Defender is a similar product, although with a smaller size, and works in the same manner.
