FBI Warns Public Charging Stations May Help Thieves Steal Your Data

The FBI is warning people against using public charging stations due to sophisticated viruses being attached to devices. 

The agency’s Denver office sent out an alert via Twitter, warning the public of this rising security threat. Per a tweet, the FBI explained that scammers have figured out a way to hack these stations commonly seen in airports and malls. When the device is connected to these tainted connections, the hacker can place monitoring software or malware directly into them. 

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

The practice known as “juice jacking” became a concern in 2011 but remained a viable security threat over the years. Malware installed through a compromised USB port can access personal data and passwords. This means criminals can steal your information in mere minutes. The FCC has also warned that criminals purposefully leave corrupted cords in charging stations, targeting those who might’ve forgotten their cables at home. These types of schemes have risen to 52% within four years, per the 2022 USB Threat report by Honeywell Forge. Thankfully, the FBI confirmed that there hadn’t been any mass event causing them to alert the public. Still, they are urging the public to be vigilant.

Though “juice jacking” is a concern, the odds of this happening are fortunately low. As a rule of thumb, bring your own chargers and try to use a wall outlet whenever possible. Portable chargers are also a great tool to avoid potential hacks.