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Amazon is looking to protect consumers from dangerous and unregulated USB-C cables that have the potential to damage or ruin electronic equipment by banning the sale of noncompliant cables.

The move comes after numerous reports of smartphones and laptops ruined by faulty connectors. In one of the better known example of this, Benson Leung, an engineer on Google's Pixel team, during a test of all USB connectors available to consumers, had his own laptop destroyed by a SurjTech 3M USB 3.1 Type-C cable, along with the rest of his equipment.

These types of complaints led Amazon to amend its list of examples of prohibited listings, adding any USB-C (or USB Type-C) cable or adapter product that is not compliant with standard specifications issued by the USB Implementers Forum.

That ban puts the faulty cables in the same category as handheld laser pointers, products that descramble or attempt to gain access to cable or satellite television without permission, and devices designed to intentionally block, jam, or interfere with licensed or authorized radio communications.

USB Type-C connectors are designed to replace data transfer, charging, and video connectors.

However, not all cables support the same functionality. Using a low-quality cable can result in serious damage to some devices, especially laptops.

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A major part of their appeal stems from improved performance. USB Type-C cables should offer up to 10 Gbps data rates and 100 watts of power.

A USB Type-C port can replace many different connectors presently found on most laptops. The Apple MacBook uses the single USB Type-C port for five different functions, for example, including charging and types of video output.

The Type-C connector is also more user-friendly, offering reversible plug orientation, cable direction, and the ability to transfer power and data simultaneously. It supports varied protocols, such as DisplayPort, MHL, HDMI, and Thunderbolt.

A basic USB Type-C to USB adapter cable costs $19 at the Apple store. A similar cable from Amazon can cost from $9 to $25, depending on the manufacturer.

However, not even Apple is immune from the potential problems in USB-C technology. In February, following the revelation that a limited number of Apple USB-C charge cables that were included with MacBook computers were faulty, the company has announced a replacement program for affected users.

Apple announced it would provide a new, redesigned USB-C charge cables -- free of charge -- to all eligible customers. This program also covers Apple USB-C charge cables that were sold as a standalone accessory.

A small but growing number of devices currently support USB-C cables -- including Nokia and Asus tablets and about a half dozen smartphones, including LG's recently released G5. There are also a handful of hard disk and solid state drives that use the technology.

Google's Leung called Amazon's decision "really great news" but added, "[W]e all have to continue to be vigilant and call out any bad products we find on Amazon and other stores (both online and brick-and-mortar) as we find them."