Protect Your Favorite Devices with the 'USB Condom'

Maintaining a secure PC isn't just about downloading and installing antivirus and antimalware programs. It's also about being careful about the USB devices, including smartphones, thumb drives and external hard drives, that you plug into your computer.

Now, a new product promises to protect your devices against malware by providing an additional layer of protection.

It's called the 'USB Condom'. The product, which is the creation of int3.cc, is being marketed as a way to prevent infections from spreading between a USB device and a computer.

That means an infected PC won't infect a thumb drive or external hard drive, and vice versa.

Connection Limited to Power Transfer

How does it work?

The USB Condom's makers say the device effectively severs data pins, thereby allowing only power to flow through the connection. (Source: pcworld.com)

Obviously, this means you can't transfer data from one device to another using a USB Condom. However, the device will be particularly useful for situations where you need to charge a device -- like a smartphone -- through an unknown USB port.

The hope is that such a system can prevent what's known as "juice jacking," which takes place when malware is transferred through a USB port. Juice jacking can also be used to steal data. (Source: theverge.com)

Better Safe Than Sorry?

In all fairness, this isn't a frequent problem. However, at least one prominent security expert has said that he's seen juice jacking infections take place.

At the very least the USB Condom could provide security-minded users with peace of mind.

If all of this sounds familiar, that may be because the idea was first pitched four years ago by designer Ko Yang. However, that design was more style than substance and only int3.cc's product appears to be a legitimate attempt to prevent juice jacking.

One final note: the int3.cc product shouldn't be confused with the Funny Naughty USB stick, which is simply a USB thumb drive shaped link a condom wrapper.