Warning About "Juice Jacking"

So, you find yourself somewhere with a dying smartphone battery, what do you do. You may not think twice about plugging into the nearest USB charging station.

You may want to reconsider. The FCC has recently issued a warning about The Dangers of Public USB Charging Stations.

The possibility exists that someone may have loaded malware onto the USP port or the USB cable at a public charging station. While your phone is charging it may become infected with a virus or malware allowing

your keystrokes to be tracked or your data to be stolen. That is known as Juice Jacking.

When you plug your phone in to charge it opens a data path between two trusted devices. On most phones, data transfer is disabled by default and the connection is only visible on the end that provides the power. In the case of Juice Jacking, the phone owner will not see what the USB port connects to. So when you plug in your phone, someone may be able to approve the connection and move data between your phone and their computer. Android phones are more susceptible to Juice Jacking but iPhones are not immune.

Some suggestions to protect yourself from Juice Jacking:

1. Avoid public charging stations. Charge your phone at home, work or in your car when possible.
2. When out, use a wall outlet to charge your phone. Travel with an adapter and a good cable purchased from a reputable source. Don’t use cheap or promo cables handed out from unknown sources.
3. Use alternate charging methods. Consider external batteries, wireless charger or a power bank.

As with everything else, know the risks and take appropriate measures to protect your devices and your personal information.