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Your phone is dying, but don't plug it in THIS way

Free USB charging stations are everywhere. But before you plug in, use these tricks to protect your privacy and information.

You wouldn't knowingly hand your cell phone over to a stranger so they can look at whatever they want on your phone, but when you plug your phone into a free charging portal at a hotel, airport or someone's laptop, you're kinda doing that. So, let’s take a look at ways to protect your info:

First: when you plug your phone in, it should send a notification asking if you trust the device. Hit "do not trust." You'll still get a charge, just without allowing access. Androids and iPhones have these alert systems.

Second: turning off your phone might help. But experts say the only way to be 100% safe is to use a wall plug, portable charger or just plug your phone into your laptop.

And you have another option if you're willing to spend a little. You can buy a data blocking adapter. It lets your phone charge and blocks out all the data-sharing capability. You can find one on Amazon for less than $10.

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