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Don't trust random USB ports or cables – Public ports can steal your data (juice jacking), and malicious cables like the OMG cable look identical to normal ones but contain a hidden computer that can remotely attack your device.
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Your car shares more than you'd expect – When you plug your phone into a vehicle, it can pull contacts, messages, and other data, which may then get shared with manufacturers, third-party services, and data brokers.
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Built-in protections are easy to screw up – Running outdated software makes attacks more likely. Plus, you might accidentally tap "trust" on a prompt, or be too lazy to switch back from "data" to "charge only" mode, leaving you vulnerable.
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USB data blockers physically sever the data pins – They only pass power, completely blocking any data connection at the hardware level so nothing can flow in or out. Cheap and simple.
That’s why you plug your power bank into the charger and plug your phone into the power bank.