How to tell if a USB cable is hiding malicious hacker hardware

We expect USB-C cables to simply perform a specified task, to either transfer data or files between two or more devices and give little more thought to the matter, but malicious USB-C cables can do much more than just that.

These cables hide malicious hardware that can intercept data, eavesdrop on phone calls and messages, or in the worst cases, take complete control of your PC or cellphone. The first of these appeared in 2008 — but back then they were very rare and expensive — which meant the average user was largely safeguarded.