[SOLVED] Is there a way to make permanently set USB charge only?

[danny009]

Hello, I have a samsung android 9 phone, everytime I plug my usb charger cable to my computer its automatically set to "transfer images" I want to make it USB charge only permanently, is there any way to do so? without making it so hard to change back as well,

Thanks

 

[britechguy]

You should count your lucky stars.

The charge function is not mutually exclusive with any of the data transfer functions, but there is an exclusive setting to allow charging only.

You will still be charging if picture/data transfer mode is on, so just leave it, as that's the thing most of us most commonly do right after charging. Which is why Samsung has wisely set this default.

 

[BFG-9000]

Get a charge-only cable. That's what you are supposed to use on public chargers anyway so you don't get pwned

 

[Sagar_20]

If you turn off the usb debugging from the developer options, you should not get that autoplay list.

Try that and come back to let me know if it works.

Though it's a horrible idea to charge a smartphone through a USB 2 or 3 port.

They're rated 0.5 amp & 0.9 amp which equates to like 25% or 45% the charging speed of what the standard is now a days, and compared to real fast charging, that's really slow.

 

[britechguy]

They're rated 0.5 amp & 0.9 amp which equates to like 25% or 45% the charging speed of what the standard is now a days, and compared to real fast charging, that's really slow.

But also really gentle on the battery, particularly in terms of heat generation.

I use my fast charger when I need it (typically when traveling) but at home I virtually always use a USB cable to my computer, connecting the phone when I get home for the night and leaving it charging until I need it again the next morning.

Speed is not always of the essence.

As to public chargers, were I to use such they would have to be just that - chargers. Unless someone's really desperate and devious, modern wall outlets with USB ports and charging strips for USB devices don't communicate with anything.

 

[BFG-9000]

That's the whole point--how do you know they are just chargers? There are now commercial devices designed to look like just USB chargers but sold for hacking into phones, no desperation required.

Even fast chargers can use a USB cable, and I just thought it was easier to switch cables than to have to wade through menus each time I wanted to change.

 

[britechguy]

I'm not disagreeing that if you are anything from ultra-careful to downright paranoid then you should get yourself a charging cable.

I simply don't believe that the vast majority of the world is looking to hack my smartphone to begin with, let alone via a charger. I'm sure someone will do it, but I prefer to focus on probable and common known security issues rather than the remotely possible but highly improbable.

Most hackers are seeking to get something, and targeting random smartphones in, say, a Starbucks is bound to have a very poor "payoff rate." That actually matters. Most criminals are in it for very distinct financial benefit, either direct or close indirect, and target accordingly.

I'm just not that juicy a target. And this comes from someone who was affected by both the Anthem and Equifax data breaches, neither of which I could have done a single thing to control, and the after effects of which have been zero for me though I have identity theft monitoring from several sources in place now.

 

[BFG-9000]

So far, OP has received one correct answer that might be cumbersome enough to qualify as "hard to change back," along with a scolding that they should not be charging so slowly.

Another answer suggests a cheap hardware solution, that also allows them to use any sketchy charger without fear if needed.

And a third, who is clearly fortunate enough to have never seen ransomware, tells them they should just get used to it because it is supposed to work that way.

Well sure, it's probably easier for a crook to set up a WiFi Pineapple Hotspot in Starbucks and hope to score some identity or credit card information. But the "vast majority of the world" doesn't actually need to be after you for there to be a problem. By that logic, the vast majority of your automobile trips do not result in a crash, so you do not need to wear a seatbelt. I do not mind if you believe that, but advising someone they would be paranoid to even have seatbelts is a bit far out. Hmm, to complete the analogy, you could even argue your soul just isn't all that juicy a target to the Devil!

What we do know is the vast majority of antivirus apps for Android actually do not do anything but scan app filenames. Even the ones that scan for patterns do not actually have the authority to change anything--unlike Windows which runs antivirus in Ring-0, so it can clean everything but kernel rootkits that are also Ring-0. Google actually has Android itself hardened pretty well now over wireless, so hackers are resorting to USB. Maybe that is desperation? By a few bad apples, anyway