Computer manufacturers put fewer and fewer USBs on the device. How do you take care of the ones you have?
1. Don’t Plug In Random Devices, and Always Use a Power Brick
You can save yourself a lot of risk by just not using the USB-to-USB ports seen commonly in airports. This moreso applies to your phone (most computers will only charge off of a regulated power supply, the kind that comes with a brick in the middle of the cord, which won’t transfer data), which can have malware injected via the charging port, because the charging port is also a data transfer port. Hiding a small device inside the wall to do this is tricky, but not so tricky that nobody does it!
The risk of injection is in fact such a problem that an Android OS will now automatically default to ‘charge only’, leaving it up to the user to go in and find the setting that allows for data sharing. Using a power converter, which can be plugged into the wall like an appliance and transmit power to the cable, does not have this pitfall.
Additionally, you’ll likely struggle to find a cord that charges your laptop off of a USB, because male-to-male USB plugs for computers don’t really exist out there. Even if your computer charges off of a USB-to-USB-C, you may find it refuses to charge off of the same cable you’d normally use for your phone.
2. Use Powered Docks If You Need More Ports
A USB port is designed to supply as much power as the product plugged into it demands. This is normally not a problem, outside of a few select very cheap power cables, because you’d normally be plugging in things like computer mice, maybe a small fan, or a USB jump drive. Nothing that demands a lot of power. However, if you find you need more USB slots than your device has, you should use a powered dock. A phone charging cable might consume 12 volts. A fan might also consume 12 volts. A powered computer mouse might not take up 12 volts, but the problem is that now you’re already above 24 volts for a device that may not be designed for that output but will try and supply it anyway. If you’re using this because you already don’t have enough USB ports, frying one by making it give more than it’s designed to is not going to fix this issue.
3. Remove Objects From USB Before Moving the Computer
Most USB jump drives are not shaped in a way that would somehow prevent them from breaking your USB port should you bump into a wall or trip while trying to move your laptop. Cords are heavy, and the USB port is designed to hold things, but not very tightly. It’s better for every single item in this equation to simply remove or eject your USB items before you try and move your laptop, or do something like put it in a bag.
Breaking a USB port is not an easy fix on a laptop – it’s often connected to the motherboard, and will require the laptop be taken apart completely to fix. Meanwhile, ejecting a USB drive takes a matter of seconds. Save your work – remove the drive – save yourself a massive headache. Done!
