This $15 USB-C cable could be the easiest way to stop hackers from stealing your data

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We're so used to using USB-C for charging that we forget it's also a fully featured data port, and hackers can use people's desperation to find a charger for their phone or laptop to their advantage. Juice jacking is a real threat -- but, fortunately, it's quite easy to protect against it with the right equipment.

Also: 7 hacking tools that look harmless but can do real damage

Plugable have a range of specially designed USB-C cables that allow you to charge your devices while blocking data.

Just the right lengths

There are three sizes of cables: the 1m/3.3ft cable that's perfect for general charging, a 2m/6.6ft cable that I find just the right length for use with a laptop, and a 5-pack of 15cm/6in cables that are great for charging small devices.

The small 6-inch cables are great for charging devices.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

No data lines

These cables all feature an E-Marker chip and allow charging up to 240W (48V/5A), but because they don't have any data lines, any attempt at communication between the charger and the device being charged is blocked.

Also: This USB-C tester will tell you if your Apple chargers are genuine

Distinguishable

The cables are well built and distinguishable from your other cables by the red strain relief (remember the mantra -- red means power only!) and the tag that gives the specs and highlights that they are data blockers.

The red strain relief is a great identifier for these cables.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

I find data-blocking cables more convenient than the little data-blocking dongles because it's easy to overlook those (although they do allow you the option of using your cables for data if you need to, so they might work better for some people).

ZDNET's buying advice

If you only ever charge at home, the office, or your car, then you don't need a data-blocking cable. The people who need one are those who regularly charge at airports, on trains and buses, and random charging kiosks. These are the people at risk of juice jacking.

Also: The weirdest $14 gadget on Amazon I've found turned out to be beyond useful

These Plugable cables are very reasonably priced. The 1m/3.3ft version is only $15, the 2m/6.6ft cable is only $16, while the 5-pack of small cables is $25.

I highly recommend them for the traveler.

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