The FBI is cautioning people about using public phone charging stations to prevent exposing their devices to harmful software.
These public USB stations, often found at places like malls and airports, can be used by bad actors to spread malware and monitoring software, as per a recent tweet from the FBI’s Denver branch. Although specific examples were not given, the agency suggested carrying your own charger and USB cord and using an electrical outlet instead.
Even though public charging stations might be tempting when your device is running low on battery, security experts have been warning about the risks for years. Back in 2011, researchers coined the term “juice jacking” to describe this problem.
By simply plugging your phone into a compromised power strip or charger, your device can get infected, putting all your data at risk, as noted by Drew Paik, formerly of security firm Authentic8, in 2017.
The cord you use to charge your phone is the same one used to send data from your phone to other devices. For instance, when you connect your iPhone to your computer, you can transfer photos. If a port is compromised, hackers could potentially access your email, text messages, photos, and contacts.
Vikki Migoya, a public affairs officer at the FBI’s Denver branch, mentioned that the FBI regularly provides reminders to stay safe, especially during travel.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also updated a blog post, warning that a corrupted charging port can allow malicious actors to lock a device or extract personal data and passwords.
The blog post also mentioned that criminals may have intentionally left cables plugged in at charging stations, and there have been reports of infected cables being given away as promotional gifts. So, it’s important to be cautious and prioritize your device’s safety when charging in public places.