Here’s why using public phone charging stations has prompted a recent FBI warning
It’s getting real out here and your data may be at risk. The FBI warns that although free public charging stations may seem like a great way to revive a dead phone or other electronic item, they should be avoided at all costs.
“Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers,” the FBI Denver office recently said on social media. “Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices.” The FBI suggests that if you need to charge your device while traveling, rather than using a charging station, you pack your own charger with a USB connection and plug it straight into an electrical outlet.
The Federal Communications Commission has dubbed this type of hacking “Juice Jacking.” The FCC also recommends that travelers only bring charging cords with them, and to pay attention to any “share data” or “charge only” instructions displayed on their devices when plugged into a USB connection.
“Malware installed through a corrupted USB port can lock a device or export personal data and passwords directly to the perpetrator,” the FCC said in their warning.
According to Travel + Leisure, recently, consumer investigative series host Jeff Rossen, whose Rossen Reports airs on a wide variety of U.S. television news programs, revealed on the “juice jacking” trend by providing a live demonstration showing how a hacker can remotely transmit an electronic device with malware that can take over the gadget and record personal data.
Along with the “Juice Jacking” craze, the FBI has previously issued warnings about digital security while traveling. They have published suggestions for travelers who must use public Wi-Fi networks and condemn using hotel Wi-Fi for work-related projects. The advice includes making sure all devices have the most recent software and firmware installed, as well as using a phone’s wireless hotspot rather than the hotel Wi-Fi.
The FBI has released a “Student Travel Safety Brochure” for students traveling internationally, which offers practical security advice like changing sensitive passwords after travel and being alert to online phishing attempts that seek to steal data.
Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience who was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of any developments within it. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all.
This story was originally published April 13, 2023 at 11:15 AM with the headline "Here’s why using public phone charging stations has prompted a recent FBI warning."