I’m a cybersecurity expert – that’s why I would never charge my phone on a public USB port
- Using public charging stations can leave you vulnerable to hackers, experts say
- Criminals can corrupt chargers to clone your data and even access your camera
- Cybersecurity expert Adrianus Warmenhoven explains why he would never use a public station – and what you can do instead
Few of us would think twice about using a public charging station if our phone battery is dead.
However, experts are sounding the alarm about these types of devices as they can help hackers download all your data and even gain access to your camera to monitor you throughout the day.
The crime — known as “juice jacking” — is so widespread that last month the FBI and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urged people to avoid using free charging stations — and instead always carry their own chargers .
And expert Andrianus Warmenhoven, who works for cybersecurity firm NordVPN, told he would never use a public station no matter how badly he needed to charge his phone.
With juice jacking, a hacker can load malware onto the USB port or cable to these stations, which are located in airports, train stations, and shopping malls.
Experts are sounding the alarm about public phone charging stations that can give hackers access to your data and even your camera
Malware is a type of software designed to damage a computer system.
As your phone charges, it becomes infected with the malware, which can clone your data — including all of your credit card information, passwords, addresses, and names — and transfer it back to the hacker’s device.
Criminals often take their victims’ data and sell it on the dark web – an underground, anonymous marketplace for scammers.
“The problem with juice theft is that there are very few documented cases of it,” Warmenhoven told .
“That’s because most victims don’t even know it happened to them.
“Some will only find out after a few months that money has disappeared from their account – and they will have no idea it came from the USB port they were using.”
He added: “And it’s not just your data. In theory, they could gain access to your camera and monitor you from there.”
Juicejacking was a term first coined in 2011 after researchers created a compromised charging kiosk to raise awareness of the scam.
But historically it was less common as it was too sophisticated and expensive for many hackers.
However, hackers have become bolder and have devised simpler methods to carry out the attack.
A 2022 USB Threat report by Honeywell Forge found that USB usage-related fraud increased to 52% over a four-year period.
Warmenhoven said: “We use our phones a lot more, so we now rely more on public charging points.
Andrianus Warmenhoven, who works for NordVPN, told that he would never use a public station
“And you can now buy ready-made cables to carry out the attack. Even a technically inexperienced hacker could do it.’
Criminals can buy a Hack5 OMG adapter capable of compromising phone data for as little as $7.
You could then very easily use it to replace a legitimate charging cable at a public station.
He adds that both the cable and the USB port pose risks.
“You see these ‘charge cabinets’ on beaches and in tourist destinations now. I would never use one.
“Often they are made by a third party. And it only takes one person in a factory to be bribed to corrupt the technology.’
He notes that people can buy USB data blockers for as little as a few dollars at most computer and hardware stores.
These devices look like thumb drives and plug directly into USB ports – they act as a shield between the port and the device.
Alternatively, he recommends bringing your own cord and plug and using a power-only outlet, or relying on a portable charging bank instead.
Tips to protect yourself from juicejacking
Carry your own portable charger
Public mini chargers can be purchased for less than $10, while more rugged versions typically cost around $20
Bring your own plug and cord – and use a standard outlet
Standard electrical outlets cannot be affected, so bring your own USB cable and plug so you can use an outlet
Consider buying a USB data blocker
This is an inexpensive and convenient way to use public stations. These devices look like USB sticks and act as a protective shield between the wall and the device. They can be bought on Amazon for less than $10