Charging your mobile phone at a public charging station is a big risk, FBI warns. In the latest move, the FBI issued a notice saying that people should avoid charging their mobile phones where they have other chargers placed. Public chargers have become a hackers paradise that allows them to plug devices with malware that allows their device to steal confidential information and even your money.the hacking is also termed Juice Jacking, which is used by hackers to infect the charging device with malware. The trick is easy and people usually dont suspect any foul. Many incidents happened in the past at the stations. This is the fact why the FBI has shared an advisory worth bringing to the notice of everyone, even those who have not taken it seriously yet. People generally charge their mobile phones while travelling. And then, public charging unit becomes handy for people to charge their phones, for the reason that either they have packed it in their luggage or forgot to bring one. The best way to avoid falling prey is to carry your charger. The next time you travel and use the charging stations, remember that one of the important law agencies has warned people not to use the public charging stations for their safety.The FBI agencies have also warned people against using the charging points at hotels and malls, saying crooks have managed to hijack public chargers that can infect devices with malware, or software that can give hackers access to your phone, tablet or computer.In a tweet mentioned by FBI Denver, it is advised not to use the public mobile phone charging stations at airports, hotels and shopping centres. They also advised people to carry their USBs to charge their mobile phones while travelling.Cybersecurity is a Global concernMoreover, the virus loading technique known as juice jacking has drawn the attention of the Federal Communications Commission since 2021. The FCC issued a warning at the time that consumer devices with infected USB cables may be taken over by software that would then steal usernames and passwords. Consumers were advised by the commission to stay away from those public stations.Ways to prevent mobile phonesThere are some ways by which you can safely use mobile phone charging stations. A person can use the USB data blocker that ensures that your data cable is used only for charging not to transfer data. It will not allow you to transfer any data from your mobile phone. Another way for protecting your phone from malware is to use power-only USB cables that look identical to the regular USB cables, but they allow to charge only.Cyber-crime in IndiaIn India also, the police department has been warning people not to charge their mobile phones at public mobile phone charging stations. Banks also have been warning people about Juice Jacking again and again. Keeping cybercrime in mind Odisha Police have warned people about the hacking and warned them not to use public stations. Taking to Twitter, police said, “Dont charge your mobiles at public places like a mobile charging station, USB power station etc. Cyber fraudsters are trying to steal your personal information from mobile and installing malware inside your phone. #StayCyberSafe.”Dont charge your mobiles at public places like mobile charging station, USB power station etc. Cyber fraudsters are trying to steal your personal information from mobile and installing the malware inside your phone. #StayCyberSafe pic.twitter.com/CubCnYlJn7— Odisha Police (@odisha_police) September 15, 2022Banks also cautioned people about the hacking of their confidential data through the trick. It said, “Think twice before you plug in your phone at charging stations. Malware could find a way in and infect your phone, giving hackers a way to steal your passwords and export your data.”
