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Charging stations at airports, or hotels can be a hot target for hackers who look to exploit people with their vulnerable devices.
Make sure you know the risks of using a public charger
Public charging stations have always been a security threat and we keep hearing about their misuse across intervals. Once again, the topic is making the headlines, this time in Bengaluru, where security experts have warned about cybercriminals using the mode of attack to steal data and other personal details stored on your devices.
Public chargers have become a hacker’s paradise that has allowed them to plug devices with malware which can be used to steal confidential data and even your money. This attack also has a term called juice jacking, which is used by the hackers to infect the charging devices with malware. The biggest law authorities like the FBI and even the Indian government have warned about these tactics.
Public Chargers Attack: How It Matters
Juice jacking becomes an easy way to attack users, because people will always need their phones to be charged, especially when they are flying. And having a public charging unit comes in handy for people who have either packed their adapter in the main luggage or forgot to bring one.
The best way to avoid falling prey to this form of hacking is to carry your own charger, including the cable. After all, the main weapon for the bad actor to infect your device with the malware is via the USB cable that is connected to the phone for charging. These warnings are shared regularly, and we have even talked about juice jacking in detail. Attacks like these make both Android and iOS devices vulnerable.
The two-way attack mode means people should avoid plugging into these chargers, especially if they don’t have their own cable handy.
Public Chargers Malware Threat: Things To Remember
– Ideally, don’t use chargers that are installed via USB ports
– Carry your own chargers/cables to charge them in public areas
– Always rely on wall chargers for charging your phone/tablet
– Keep your phone’s OS and other components up to date
– Make sure the public station is not linked to a data cable that can allow hackers to transmit data
