(PartiallyPolitics.com) – The FBI is warning people against using public phone charging stations located in airports, shopping malls, and other popular locations. According to a recent FBI statement, hackers have found a way for malware and other software to be introduced to the devices that connect to public charging stations.
They proceeded to warn against the usage of “free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers.” This statement was posted on the FBI’s Denver Twitter account stating that through the use of the public USB ports “to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices.” They proceeded to advise that everyone should carry their “own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet” if they need to charge their phone. This warning on social media is similar to the one that the FBI has made available on its website.
The FBI’s Denver office specifically told The Hill that there had been nothing specific to prompt them to post the public service announcement. The FBI is not the only agency to have posted a warning about USB charging stations.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also put a warning on its website against the usage of USB ports available in public charging stations, stating that hackers might use them to “maliciously” access devices. The agency has dubbed this practice “juice jacking.”
The FCC in their statement writes that if the battery on your device is running low, then avoid using the USB port stations as you could fall victim to “‘juice jacking,’ a new cyber-theft tactic.”
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