The Alarming Reason Why the FBI Is Warning Travelers Against Using Public Charging Stations
Think twice about where you're plugging in your phone.
If you are planning a vacation or business trip, you may be thinking about what you need to have readily available at the airport. You know you need to keep your boarding pass and driver's license handy, and you'll definitely want your phone. On top of that, even if your phone is totally charged, you will want to make sure that you also include your phone charger. Since a phone charger can be a little bulky when you are trying to travel light, it might be tempting to at least leave the plug end of your cord in your suitcase. After all, aren't there USB port phone charging stations at the airport? Before ditching the plug, however, you may want to think twice. The FBI has issued a warning that you will want to be aware of. Find out why the FBI is warning against using public charging stations.
If you've been in an airport lately, you know that there are several handy USB ports in many of the seats in the waiting area. There are also public charging stations at most of the terminals that make it easy to get a quick charge with your USB cable. Because of this and the fact that most hotels have USB ports in the rooms, it seems to make sense that you wouldn't need the plug attachment to your cable for a while. But did you know that those seemingly helpful USB ports also pose a risk?
Here is everything that you need to know about "juice jacking," the dangers of using public charging stations and what you can do instead.
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Why the FBI is Warning Travelers Against Using Public Charging Stations
The FBI recently issued a warning against using public phone charging stations in airports, hotels, malls or any public area. This is because cybercriminals have figured out how to use USB ports to transmit malware and monitoring software onto any device that accesses these public ports. The FCC explains that this is what is called "juice jacking." Hackers do this to gain access to personal data and passwords or to lock up a device. There have also been some cases where criminals have intentionally left infected cables plugged in at charging stations in hopes that someone will use one.
People tend to forget that a USB cable is used to transmit data as well as to charge a phone. Since public ports could have been compromised, it is advised not to use them at all. Even though there weren't any specific cases of this cited, the fact that it is even possible is a strong enough reason to use other means of charging your phone whenever possible.
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How Safe Are Airport Charging Stations?
Even with the warnings against public charging stations, there are some safe ways to use an airport charging station. According to Lifewire, you can connect a USB data blocker so that the cable only charges the phone without transmitting any data. You can get these data-blocking cables from Amazon for around $12.
StarTech.com 3ft (1m) Secure Charging Cable USB-A to USB-C Data Blocker Charge-Only Cable No-Data Power-Only Charger Cable for Phone/Tablet Data Blocking USB Protector Adapter Cable (USBSCHAC1M)
"Power-only" cables can be used instead of a data cable. The power-only cables look very similar to regular USB cables but might have a thinner end because they only use two wires instead of four. However, since the cables are so hard to tell apart without testing them, if you're not sure if your phone's cable is power-only, it's best not to use your cable at the airport.
Other Ways To Keep Your Electronics Charged While Staying Safe
It is advised to simply bring your own charger and plug to use in a wall electrical outlet. This will guarantee that you are only charging your phone with no possible data transfer.
If you would prefer, you could also use a charging brick instead. These portable chargers are convenient if you lose battery in your phone in any remote area. You can purchase a set of two power banks from Amazon for $29.90.
FOCHEW Portable Charger, 2-Pack 20000mAh Power Bank Ultra Slim Fast Charging External Battery Pack with Dual USB Outputs Compatible with iPhone 13/12 Pro/12/11/XR/X, Samsung S20, Tablet etc.
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