Abstract: A connection hub includes a housing coupled to a universal serial bus (USB) cable that includes a plug for electronic devices. A housing of the connection hub includes a number (N) of ports and switches. The connection hub includes 1-to-N connections between the USB cable and the N ports, where each of the N ports includes a data line and/or a power line. The switches each include a mechanical component that is movable between a first position that activates a private mode and a second position that deactivates the private mode. A data line of a particular port is disabled when the private mode is activated, and a particular power line of the particular port is enabled when either the private mode is activated and when the private mode is deactivated.

Abstract: A connection hub includes a housing coupled to a universal serial bus (USB) cable that includes a plug for electronic devices. A housing of the connection hub includes a number (N) of ports and switches. The connection hub includes 1-to-N connections between the USB cable and the N ports, where each of the N ports includes a data line and/or a power line. The switches each include a mechanical component that is movable between a first position that activates a private mode and a second position that deactivates the private mode. A data line of a particular port is disabled when the private mode is activated, and a particular power line of the particular port is enabled when either the private mode is activated and when the private mode is deactivated.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable includes a connector and a switch. The connector includes a housing configured for gripping by a user to manually insert/remove the connector to/from a port of an electronic device. The connector includes a power line configured to enable transfer of power to the electronic device and a data line configured to enable exchange of data with the electronic device. The switch is integrated into the outer surface of the housing and includes, for example, a toggle that is mechanically movable between a first position that activates a private mode and a second position that deactivates the private mode. The exchange of data with the electronic device is only enabled while the toggle is in the second position, and the transfer of power to the electronic device is enabled regardless of whether the toggle is in the first position or the second position.