Public charging stations can feel like a gift, especially when you’re about to board a flight and have realized your phone is low on power. Sadly, despite the good intentions behind these charging stations, some bad apples have come and spoiled the bunch. The risks associated with using public charging stations are starting to outgrow the benefits, so much so that even the FBI is getting in on issuing warnings for smartphone and computer owners. Case in point: the FBI recently warned the public against using public charging stations in these popular locations to help prevent your data from falling into the wrong hands.
Avoid Airports, Hotels & Shopping Centers
Some of the most common spots where you’d love to make use of free public charging stations are among the most risky. The FBI in Denver recently issued a warning to the public against using public charging stations in specific popular locations: “Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices,” the FBI Denver tweeted. “Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead.”
According to the FBI, this warning didn’t come on the heels of any one specific incident, thought it’s becoming increasingly clear that hackers are relying more on public charging stations as an easy way to sit back and let their targets come to them.
The malicious practice is known as “juice jacking,” and it’s one in which hackers install malware through USB ports. When a victim plugs in their phone or computer to take advantage of public charging stations, this malware then locks their device and can pretty much funnel personal data and sensitive information like passwords straight to hackers. According to the 2022 USB Threat report by Honeywell Forge, threats like these have increased by a whopping 52% over four years — so the practice has increased and likely isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
The best way you can protect yourself is by getting out of the habit of relying on any old charger unless it’s yours or belongs to someone you trust. Investing in a quality power bank for your phone that you can carry around ensures you’ll always have a way to charge your device so that you don’t have to rely on public charging stations. And it’s also a really good idea to get out of the habit of using public Wi-Fi — or, at the very least, only using it to perform basic tasks that don’t involve providing your passwords or other sensitive information.
Hackers are savvy, for sure. But, by following a few smart tips, you can keep up and protect your data.
