FBI warns of malware from public phone charging stations

by ian

Travelers beware: you could become the victim of cyber-theft if you plug your phone into a public charging station.

The FBI Denver office warned last week that hackers have found a way to introduce malware and monitoring devices onto devices through these stations.

Officially called “juice jacking,” charging your phone may give hackers your personal data and passwords.

Authorities say bad actors target travel-friendly USB ports at places like airports and hotels to infect devices with the malware. 

The Federal Communications Commission also says travelers should be wary of charging at public stations. Instead, authorities say to carry your own charger and adapter to plug into a wall outlet.

Travelers may also use a charging-only cable that prevents the transfer of data.

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