Journalists at tech publication How-To Geek have published a list of USB devices and accessories that should never be connected to a computer.
The authors warned against plugging in hardware with cables that are damaged or severely bent. Journalist Monica J. White explained that in the best case, the device simply will not work, while in the worst case, it can cause a short circuit. For the same reason, connecting smartphones or other gadgets with damaged batteries to a personal computer USB port is dangerous.
Data transfers and unknown hardware
Attempting to connect two PCs directly through USB ports using a standard cable to transfer data will not work without a special accessory. The authors noted that a low-quality cable could connect the powered USB lines of both computers, causing unpredictable electrical problems.
The journalists also advised against connecting unknown accessories, including chargers of unclear origin or USB flash drives found on the street.
In an earlier report, journalists at MakeUseOf named turning off unnecessary applications as a way to speed up a Windows computer. They also advised disabling features in the Recommendations and suggestions menu.
