Cellphone: The FBI warns of the dangers of public chargers

The FBI warns that shared charging stations at airports, hotels and stores can be hacked by hackers and steal data or install malware on cellphones.

This practice, known as “juice break-in,” allows criminals to use USB cables to plant viruses or steal credit card numbers and other data in minutes.

Avoid using free charging stations at airports, hotels or malls. Bad actors have found 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

The term juice hacking dates back to 2011, when researchers attending the DefCon hacking conference created a malicious charging station to highlight potential risks, according to reports. Washington Post.

While it remains unclear how common these types of attacks are, repeated warnings from cybersecurity agencies make it clear that the risk is real. Warnings have been issued by its authorities California Which India And from Federal Communications Commission in the United States of America.

According to Tony Coulson, executive director of the Cyber ​​Security Center at California State University, San Francisco, wireless chargers and newer USB-C chargers are safer, but not quite.

USB cables that do not contain data receptacles and are only used for charging are also safe.

If you have a public charger, check for signs of suspicious activity, such as if the battery is draining faster than expected, if the device overheats when not in use, or if settings have changed without your intervention.

If you have cause for concern, reset the device to factory settings.

And make sure you always have your charger and cable with you.