4 ms·

At the very least, there should be a mode to charge via USB while disabling the data pins at the hardware level

runeb 10y ago
This is a feature on computers (Macs at least), where on iOS you'll be prompted if you trust the device before it connects to it. If you choose "No" it will only charge. Edit: Which of course is not hardware level per se, but something similar should be possible to implement on iOS for anything it connects to. Trust this? Enable data.
- mjevans 10y ago
  Recent versions of Android (I think anything >=4.4) also defaults to charging only mode, and makes you pick which type of data connection you want to offer. I detest that MTP is the 'best' protocol offered for sharing the filesystem. I find it incredibly buggy and limited. (I would like to be able to use some of that filesystem for carrying around large files!)
  - voltagex_ 10y ago
    I'm not sure how good that charging only mode is - it still presents an (empty?) MTP device to the host PC.
sithadmin 10y ago
This is why I carry around a 'USB condom' (in particular, a PortaPow FastCharge) for use whenever I want to charge from an untrusted USB port.
- bbcbasic 10y ago
  That's a fantastic analogy
ars 10y ago
Just buy a USB cable that simply doesn't have those wires. I bought a retractable one that isn't available anymore, but other people have posted many links to products just like it.
- dawnerd 10y ago
  I always carry two usb battery bricks. One for my macbook (although I've only used it to charge in testing) and an amazonbasics one for my phone. Never had to plug into a public charging port. If I'm in a hotel I'll use a one of my apple usb power adapters.
  - Hydraulix989 10y ago
    What do you use for your macbook?
    - dawnerd 10y ago
      Essentially last years version of this: https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Portable-Capacity-PowerPort/dp/B016HNALOI https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Portable-Capacity-Pow... It says Powercore 20100 but the form factor that comes up on amazon matches the one linked. Looks like they refreshed and increased capacity.
      - Hydraulix989 10y ago
        Oh that's right, you can charge over USB, so no need for an inverter. I need to find one that works with 12VDC for my Thinkpad.
ubernostrum 10y ago
Like another commenter says, "USB condoms" are available pretty cheap. You can even get them without any kind of casing on them to be able to see that the data pins are cut or missing. I bring a couple on any trip where I think I might have to use USB to charge a device, since I don't trust strange USB ports.

runeb 10y ago

This is a feature on computers (Macs at least), where on iOS you'll be prompted if you trust the device before it connects to it. If you choose "No" it will only charge. Edit: Which of course is not hardware level per se, but something similar should be possible to implement on iOS for anything it connects to. Trust this? Enable data.

mjevans 10y ago
Recent versions of Android (I think anything >=4.4) also defaults to charging only mode, and makes you pick which type of data connection you want to offer. I detest that MTP is the 'best' protocol offered for sharing the filesystem. I find it incredibly buggy and limited. (I would like to be able to use some of that filesystem for carrying around large files!)
- voltagex_ 10y ago
  I'm not sure how good that charging only mode is - it still presents an (empty?) MTP device to the host PC.

sithadmin 10y ago

This is why I carry around a 'USB condom' (in particular, a PortaPow FastCharge) for use whenever I want to charge from an untrusted USB port.

bbcbasic 10y ago
That's a fantastic analogy

ars 10y ago

Just buy a USB cable that simply doesn't have those wires. I bought a retractable one that isn't available anymore, but other people have posted many links to products just like it.

dawnerd 10y ago
I always carry two usb battery bricks. One for my macbook (although I've only used it to charge in testing) and an amazonbasics one for my phone. Never had to plug into a public charging port. If I'm in a hotel I'll use a one of my apple usb power adapters.
- Hydraulix989 10y ago
  What do you use for your macbook?
  - dawnerd 10y ago
    Essentially last years version of this: https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Portable-Capacity-PowerPort/dp/B016HNALOI https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Portable-Capacity-Pow... It says Powercore 20100 but the form factor that comes up on amazon matches the one linked. Looks like they refreshed and increased capacity.
    - Hydraulix989 10y ago
      Oh that's right, you can charge over USB, so no need for an inverter. I need to find one that works with 12VDC for my Thinkpad.

ubernostrum 10y ago

Like another commenter says, "USB condoms" are available pretty cheap. You can even get them without any kind of casing on them to be able to see that the data pins are cut or missing. I bring a couple on any trip where I think I might have to use USB to charge a device, since I don't trust strange USB ports.