If you are a frequent traveler, you might have encountered a free public phone charging station at some point. And if you’re running low on battery, these stations are the best way to get some juice for your phone. However, authorities are now warning the public that charging your gadgets at free stations, commonly found in airports and hotel lobbies, also carries risks. You could become a victim of the cyber-theft tactic known as ‘juice jacking’.
What is Juice Jacking?
TechTarget defines Juice Jacking as “a security exploit in which an infected USB charging station is used to compromise devices that connect to it.”
According to cybersecurity experts, when a corrupted USB port is utilized, malware can be installed on a device, potentially resulting in unauthorized access to personal data and passwords. Criminals can then exploit this information to gain entry into online accounts or sell it to other malicious individuals.
Should I be worried of Juice Jacking?
On April 6, 2023, the FBI Denver issued a public advisory regarding the risks associated with using free public charging stations. They cautioned that these public USB ports could potentially contain malware and monitoring software. This advisory tweet sparked numerous articles discussing the concept of juice jacking.
Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers. Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices. Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead. pic.twitter.com/9T62SYen9T
— FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) April 6, 2023
However, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), while juice jacking is technically possible as a proof of concept, they have no knowledge of any actual instances occurring. Despite the lack of reported incidents, it remains crucial for people to be aware of the vulnerabilities they could face, especially considering the significant amount of personal information stored on our phones.
Preventive measures against Juice jacking
As we all know, the easiest way to protect yourself from “juice jacking” is to avoid charging your devices using public outlets. If you travel often, having a portable battery bank is a great alternative.
Instead of plugging your phone directly into the charging station, you can charge the portable battery bank and then use it to charge your phone. The best part is that these battery banks are portable, so you can carry them with you wherever you go.
