FBI Says Don’t Charge Your Phone at Public Charging Stations: Here’s Why
Charging your phone at public chargers is a big risk, and most of us know that, but now this warning has come via the FBI, who have issued a notice saying that people should avoid charging their phones at public charging stations where you have other chargers.
Public chargers have become havens for hackers, allowing them to attach devices with malware that can be used to steal confidential information and even your money. This attack also has a term called juice jacking, which is used by hackers to infect Chargers with malware.
The trick is easy, and people usually don’t suspect anything bad. But the events of the recent past have shown the danger posed by these charging stations. The fact that the FBI is giving out advice is definitely worth noting for anyone, even those who may not have taken it seriously.
Juice Jack becomes an easy way to attack users because people always need their phone to charge, especially when they fly. And the public charging unit is handy for people who have either packed their adapters in their main luggage or forgot to bring one with them.
The best way to avoid falling victim to this type of hack is to carry your own charger, cable included. After all, the main weapon a bad actor uses to infect your device with malware is the USB cable connected to the phone for charging. These warnings are shared regularly and we’ve even talked about juicing in detail.
But the next time you decide to fly and use these charging stations, remember that one of the world’s top law enforcement agencies has warned people against using public chargers for their own safety.
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