PortaPow USB-A to USB-C Data Blocker

So full transparency I there is not really a way to test this working. I will say this I work for a large airline and during a president call the data security in airports was brought up and the VP shared this link and said this is what he used. if nothing else it brings be peace of mind that my devices plugged into it can not be compromised.

“Juice Jacking” is not new. It was first identified as a potential vulnerability back in 2011. It has been making the rounds in the news since. The attack is diabolically simple. It takes advantage of the USB standard at the hardware level. See photos for reference. When you plug your device into an infected USB port (or cord) at an airplane, airport, coffeeshop, or Uber, you’re putting your digital security at risk of being infected with malware that will hijack your device or, worse, lay dormant to collect and transmit your sensitive information without showing any external symptoms.To guard against juice jacking, you could follow a few simple but effective precautions: 1️⃣ Do not plug into a public USB port.2️⃣ Do not use a USB cord from a stranger.3️⃣ Use a portable power bank, or a wall charger (acts as buffer), and your own cord.4️⃣ Use a USB data blocker.👉 USB Data Blockers are simple and effective devices that work at the physical level, actually removing the two leads used to transfer data in and out of your device. That leaves only power and ground leads. This is something you can actually verify with your own eyes. See photos for reference.👉 Another simple way to check if the blocker you received is effective is to plug it into your laptop and plug a thumb drive in to see if your laptop recognizes it. It shouldn’t since it lacks data leads. 👉 I have tested this PortaPow Data Blocker for charging and data blocking, and in my testing, it worked exactly as advertised. It’s a simple device, done well, and priced reasonably. I highly recommend it. Another alternative is data blockers made by Eyebloc, but those seem to be always sold out. Final Thoughts 🧐 If you travel a lot, especially internationally, you will inevitably be in a situation where you have to use a USB port to recharge your phone. This happens often when you’re seated in an airplane and there’s only a USB port and no other sockets within easy reach. For those and similar scenarios, this little doohickey will be there to keep you safe. Just buy them, and toss them into your accessory bag for your next trip. It’s better to have them and not use them than the other way around. I hope my review has helped you make a more informed buying decision 👍😊✌️— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —One more thing 🤓Here are a few important caveats PortaPow includes with its product.- “Our SmartCharge chip detects whether your device uses the Apple, Universal or Samsung spec and sends the correct signal, ensuring the adaptor does not become a bottleneck.”- “This adaptor will not solve charging issues caused by a low quality / extra long cable (how long is extra long🤔)”- “Devices which charge using Qualcomm Quick Charge, Samsung Adaptive Fast Charge, or similar standards require data transfer to be enabled and a compatible charger, and so will not charge at extra fast speeds from normal USB sockets or with a data blocker.”

I travel quite a bit for work. In my travels it's not unusual to have to recharge portable devices such as my iPhone in airports (including lounges), hotels, restaurants and even on planes and in taxis. Ever since learning about "Juice Jacking" from one of my engineering client's IT department, I have been concerned about unauthorized access to data on my devices and the installation of malware via "free" USB charging ports.Thanks to PortaPow there is a solution to prevent my devices from being Juice Jacked. I have purchased both USB-A to USB-C adapters as well as USB-C M/F cables to use during my travels. I also use them for visits to my local barista as you never know who has been messing around with the store's USB ports.I have been using the PortaPow cables for a while now and just started using the USB adapters for my latest trip to China. It's difficult to prove the kit is working since you do not get a warning about an unsafe situation as the PortaPows permanently block all data all of the time from being transmitted by the USB's data lane. To date, none of my devices have been compromised. I have also not noticed any degradation in charging speed, so I have been quite happy I now have the data blockers in my backpack all the time.One thing that I really appreciate about these PortaPow data blocker devices is that the connections to my USB plugs are very solid. Regardless of minor drag on the connections, nothing comes loose.I have now purchased a set of adapters and cables for my wife to further mitigate the possibility of compromised devices gaining access to our home network. The cost for the added peace of mind is nominal.Along with WiFi and other connection security solutions, the PortaPow Data Blocker should be considered as an integral part of ensuring device and network integrity.

I trust these filters to help protect my devices. Very simple to use. Very firm connection which will take a very long time to wear out; this is a good thing. Very small, light, and staying in the work bag forever.

Love these. Allows me to charge via USB ports in airports, on planes, in rental cars, and in hotels without the possibility of getting hacked (which is no longer reserved only for spy-movies but is a new method for scammers to exploit). There's no reason you should plug in a data-transfer-allowable cable to charge your device, unless you're also transferring data.I have a USB-A to USB-A and a USB-A to USB-C version as part of my travel charging bag, which saves me from having to use wall-plugs exclusively, or a cigarette lighter adapter for vehicles.I also use it in my own vehicle to prevent Android Auto from connecting when I plug into the USB-A port as I consider it annoying and don't use the feature, but still have it available if I don't use the data blocker and without having to mess with the car's system settings. Less of a security concern in this case and more of a personal preference.

Great idea but the implementation is terrible. The first time I used it on my new phone I got a warning to get a new charger. It was going to take 3.5 hours to change my phone already at 50%. JUNK!!

I can't see how it could help me travel. I could see if I tried to use a strange charging port I might get some bad venerial data if I didn't use this.

These work as intended, they are very solid to the touch and just seem feel like a well made product. The packaging is very nice and reusable as well. I bought several products from PortaPow and I'm going to leave the same review for all 3 items.