Beware of 'Juice Jacking': FBI urges caution with public chargers
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warns against using public smartphone chargers due to the risk of "Juice Jacking" attacks. An expert suggests an alternative: using your USB cable or personal charger.
Anyone might need to charge their phone in a public place, but the FBI advises caution when using provided chargers with USB ports. Charging stations can not only supply power but might also connect to the device, which poses a risk of personal data theft.
What is the danger of public chargers?
According to the chief security engineer at Check Point Software, Muhammad Yahya Patel, public chargers are rarely secured, threatening users.
Patel suggests a simple solution:
In public places, let’s use our own cables and plugs, and use an electrical outlet or a cable without data transfer capability, he emphasised.
He points out that "hackers use charging ports to transfer data and can install spyware or mirror the screen."
What to use instead of public chargers?
Another option is having your own power bank, eliminating the need to use public devices. However, it’s important to remember that data can also be stolen by installing an infected app, even if it's from the official Google Play store on Android.
