Public charging ports pose data theft threat, warns FBI

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned about using public smartphone chargers. The concern is the threat of so-called "juice jacking," a potential attack that can occur while charging a phone in public places. However, there is a way to protect oneself from such an attack.

Anyone may need to charge a smartphone using a public USB port charger. However, according to the FBI warning, it carries a significant risk. The danger is that these chargers can not only deliver energy but also interact with our devices, which can lead to the theft of personal data.

Muhammad Yahya Patel, the chief security engineer at Check Point Software, confirms that public charging stations are rarely monitored for security, threatening their users. However, Patel suggests a simple method to avoid such situations.

Patel advises using your cable and plug and a traditional electrical outlet or a cable that does not support data transfer when charging your phone in public places. Hackers use the charging port as a medium to transmit data. They can thereby install a tracking program or take screen captures.

Alternatively, you can carry your power bank to avoid the threat of juice jacking. However, remember that data theft from a phone can happen through various methods, not just through a suspicious charging station or cable.

Installing an infected app, even from the official Google Play store, is sometimes enough.