Access to a mobile computing device by a connected external device is limited, based on the context of the connection. The connection of the mobile computing device to an external device is detected. An identifier of the connected external device is gleaned, and the gleaned identifier is looked-up in a database of mappings between identifiers and descriptions of specific devices. The connected external device is classified as being of a specific functional category, based on the gleaned identifier and the description of the external device from the database. The functional category describes a legitimate function to be performed by the connected external device, such as data synchronizing, media playing or battery charging. The external device is provided with a level of access to the mobile computing device based on the classified functional category.