Traveling or shopping and need to charge your phone? You might be tempted to use one of the public charging stations available at airports, malls, hotels, or other places. However, beware: the FBI is warning that this could expose your device to malware and hackers who can steal your personal information.
According to a tweet from the FBI’s Denver office, bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices. This threat, known as “juice jacking”, has been around for years, but it remains a concern as more people rely on their phones for online activities.
Malware installed through a corrupted USB port can lock a device or export data such as passwords, contacts, photos, messages, and bank accounts directly to a criminal. The sensitive information can then be used to access online accounts or be sold to other bad actors. In some cases, criminals may have intentionally left infected cables plugged in at charging stations.
The scary part of juice jacking is that you probably won’t even be able to tell that your phone is infected with malware after plugging it into a compromised USB port, according to experts.
To stay safe, carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead of a public USB port. Alternatively, invest in a portable battery pack or power bank that can charge your device without connecting to a USB port. Avoid using free charging stations that could put your device and your identity at risk.
While juice jacking may be still relatively uncommon, it is also a fairly easy and low-cost hack, especially in public locations, said technology journalist Dan Patterson. Experts who spoke to CBS News say there’s always the chance of unreported cases since some may not even be aware of the risks. Therefore, it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to charging your phone in public places.
