It’s a fast way to give your phone some juice that could also give hackers direct access to your information.
The FBI has issued a serious warning against using free public phone chargers, saying cunning delinquents have been known to use the USB ports to infect phones with dangerous malware and software that can give hackers access to your phone, tablet or computer.
“Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers,” a tweet from the official FBI account read. “Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead.”
The Federal Communications Commission previously warned about “juice jacking,” which is what the hijacking is known as, in 2021.
The FCC said malware bandits have been known to install infected USB ports that can export personal data and passwords directly to them from the phone.
Criminals can use that information to access online accounts or sell it to other bad actors, according to the FCC website.
The FBI recommends creating a strong and unique password for every online account — and changing them regularly.
“Using the same passphrase across several accounts makes you more vulnerable if one account is breached,” the website notes.
The FBI also recommends updating phones regularly, setting up multi-factor authentication and keeping an eye out for sophisticated phishing scams.
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