The FBI has warned that cyber criminals are hijacking public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices. The FBI says that software installed through a corrupted USB port (known as “juice jacking”) can lock a device or export personal data and passwords directly to the perpetrator, which criminals can then use to access online accounts or sell to other bad actors.
The advice from the FBI is:
- Avoid using a public USB charging station. Use an AC power outlet instead.
- Bring AC, car chargers, and your own USB cables with you when travelling.
- Carry a portable charger or external battery.
- Consider carrying a charging-only cable, which prevents data from sending or receiving while charging, from a trusted supplier.
- If you plug your device into a USB port and a prompt appears asking you to select "share data" or “charge only,” always select “charge only.”