Final answer:
A malicious USB cable can be used for malicious activities, such as controlling the device, stealing data, or inserting malware, due to added functionality in its plug.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to the potential misuse of a seemingly innocuous device like a USB cable. A malicious USB cable, due to added functionality in its plug, can be used for malicious activities. While a normal USB cable offers charging and data transfer capabilities, a tampered or malicious cable could be engineered to include additional, often hidden, components that allow hackers to control the connected device, steal data, or insert malware. This type of cybersecurity threat is known as a hardware Trojan or malicious hardware. Such cables might look and function like any standard USB cable but have covert capabilities that exploit the USB connection.